July 2024 | Page 9 of 11

Gurez on Edge: Proposed Firing Range Raises Concerns for Tourism and Ecology

July 7, 2024 Editor

Gurez on the Brink: Proposed Firing Range Sparks Outrage in Kashmir’s Tourism Paradise By: Javid Amin Nestled amidst the majestic Himalayas, Gurez Valley in North Kashmir has blossomed into a haven for tourists seeking pristine beauty and serenity. However, a dark cloud looms over this paradise. A proposed firing range by the Army at Butmalai, close to the Line of Control (LoC), has sent shockwaves through the local community, raising serious concerns about the future of tourism and the fragile ecosystem. A Valley on the Rise: Just a few years…

Omar Abdullah: ‘Hope Assembly Elections in J&K Held as Scheduled’

July 6, 2024 Editor

Omar Abdullah said there was hope that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will be able to elect their representatives after the PM’s announcement made on Yoga Day Amid uncertainty over the final schedule for the impending assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, former chief minister and National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah expressed hope that the elections are held within the timeline stipulated by the Supreme Court The leader, who was addressing media at the conclusion of the party’s two-day working committee meeting in Srinagar, pointed out that Prime…

Kashmir’s Cool Crown Melts: Climate Blamed for Record-Breaking Heat

July 6, 2024 Editor

Srinagar: As Srinagar and rest of Kashmir witnessed record-breaking maximum temperatures this July, the experts here have claimed that the unusual, abnormal temperatures and precipitation is the outcome of the climate change. However, the experts are of the belief that the shifting of Monsoon winds as well as the absence of Western Disturbances has shown the abnormal behaviour. Professor Ghulam Jeelani, Dean, School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Kashmir University said that the rising temperatures, unusual precipitation is not the Kashmir phenomenal; these things are being witnessed across the globe…

National Conference Seeks Public Input for Poll Manifesto: Building a Better Tomorrow Together

July 6, 2024 Editor

Building a Better Tomorrow: NC Seeks and Receives Public Input for Election Manifesto; Public responded with inputs & suggestions By: Javid Amin In a bid to ensure that the voices of the people of Jammu and Kashmir are heard and their needs addressed, the National Conference (NC) has invited public suggestions for its upcoming poll manifesto. This move underscores the party’s commitment to participatory governance and inclusive development. Here’s a detailed overview of the highlights from the National Conference’s poll manifesto, enriched with inputs from the general public. Key Highlights from…

Snowblind: The Stealthy Intruder – How to Protect Your Android from This Devious Malware

July 5, 2024 Editor

Don’t Be Blinded by Convenience: How to Fight Snowblind Malware on Android By: Javid Amin The Silent Threat Within Imagine reaching for your phone to pay a bill, only to discover a thief has been lurking in the shadows, unseen by all your security measures. This isn’t a scene from a spy movie; it’s the chilling reality of Snowblind, a new breed of Android malware that bypasses traditional security barriers to steal your data. Unlike its bumbling counterparts, Snowblind operates silently, exploiting a trusted security feature to its advantage. The…

Poisoned Paradise: J&K’s Horticulture Faces a Reckoning on Pesticides

July 5, 2024 Editor

Jammu & Kashmir’s Fruits: A Bitter Harvest? – Pesticide Use Threatens Health By: Zahid Ahmad Khan Jammu and Kashmir is also celebrated for its flourishing horticulture industry. The region’s fertile terrain supports a rich diversity of crops including apples, apricots, cherries, pears, and walnuts, among others. Over the decades, this sector has experienced exponential growth, with production skyrocketing from 10,000 metric tonnes in 1950 to an impressive 25 lakh metric tonnes in 2020. Today, approximately 332,704 hectares of land are dedicated to horticulture in Jammu and Kashmir, with a significant…

Amarnath Yatra Goes Green: 600+ Workers Aim for ‘Zero-Landfill’

July 5, 2024 Editor

Fifteen waste processing facilities have been set up and over 600 workers deployed along the two routes of the Amarnath Yatra in the south Kashmir Himalayas to achieve “zero-landfill” by ensuring a garbage-free sustainable pilgrimage, a senior government official said on Wednesday. More than one lakh pilgrims have visited the cave shrine located at a height of 3,880 metre — using the 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal — since the 52-day yatra began on June 29. The official said the 15…

Kashmir Burning! Srinagar Heats Up, Outpacing Kolkata in Record-Breaking July

July 4, 2024July 4, 2024 Editor

The Kashmir Valley continues to reel under a heatwave, with Srinagar recording a season-high for the second straight day at 35.6° C on Wednesday. It made the city even hotter than Kolkata, which registered a maximum temperature of 31° C. The 35.6° C was not only six degrees above normal, but the highest for July in 25 years. “Srinagar has recorded a maximum temperature of 35.6° C… the highest July temperature recorded in Srinagar since 1999, when the maximum temperature reached 37.° C on July 9. The all-time highest maximum temperature…

Jio-Airtel Price Hike: Will Uncle Sam Step In? Centre Says ‘Not Critical’

July 4, 2024 Editor

The tariffs in India are still among the cheapest in the world and authorities want the companies to ramp up their focus on quality of services. The government and the telecom regulator will not interfere or stop telecom companies from increasing prices, officials in the know told Economic Times. The tariffs in India are still among the cheapest in the world and authorities want the companies to ramp up their focus on quality of services, the officials said as per the report. “There is enough competition in the telecom sector…

Hot & Humid with a Splash: Intermittent Rains Expected in J&K, Heavy Downpours Likely on 5th & 6th July

July 4, 2024 Editor

Srinagar: Meteorological department on Wednesday said that hot and humid weather to remain continue with intermittent light to moderate rains till July 10. It also said that there is a possibility of intermittent moderate rainfall at most places of J&K with heavy rainfall at few places. It also predicted thundershowers at scattered places of Jammu and Kashmir divisions. “Today hot and humid weather with possibility of spell of rain & thundershower at scattered places of Jammu division towards late night & early morning, while as spell of rain & thundershower at…