Author: Earth News Network

Srinagar, Aug 20: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said Pakistan’s decision to summon the US Charge d’Affaires over Ambassador Sergio Gor’s remarks on Jammu and Kashmir was an issue between the two countries. “This is a matter between Pakistan and America. Neither you nor I can do anything about it. The American Ambassador said what he said. Now it is between the two countries,” Omar told reporters. Gor, who is also US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for South and Central Asian affairs, made the remarks during his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.…

JAMMU, Aug 20: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday visited Karol Krishna, a border village in Kathua district, and said border settlements are not the country’s last villages but its “first villages” and the frontline of India’s identity, security and development. Karol Krishna, along with Rathua, Gujjar Chak, Gajnal, Bobiya and Kadiyala, is covered under the Vibrant Villages Programme-Phase-II (VVP-2). During his visit, Sinha distributed benefits under various government schemes among local families and handed over appointment letters to youth. Addressing residents of the six strategic villages, the Lieutenant Governor said border areas had remained distant from governance priorities for…

JAMMU, Aug 20: Indian Railways is set to introduce a third Vande Bharat Express between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar via Udhampur, providing an additional high-speed rail option for passengers travelling between the two cities. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Thursday shared a letter from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirming that approval has been granted for the new service, which will operate as Train Nos. 26407/26408 Jammu Tawi-Srinagar-Jammu Tawi Vande Bharat Express. The new train will run via Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan Udhampur, further strengthening rail connectivity between the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley. At present, two Vande Bharat…

Jammu, August 20: Senior BJP leader and former minister Bali Bhagat on Thursday launched a blistering attack on the Congress over its decision to follow its 1937 position of singing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at party programmes, accusing it of reviving the politics of appeasement pursued by the pre-Partition Muslim League.  “The abbreviation INC no longer reflects the Congress’s politics. It should rename itself the ‘Indian Muslim League Congress’ or simply the ‘Jinnah Congress’. After restricting Vande Mataram, perhaps the only thing left for the party is to embrace the Constitution of Pakistan,” Bhagat said. Bhagat…

New Delhi, Aug 20: Measures proposed in the Master Plan for Delhi-2047, prepared by the DDA, include prohibiting high-intensity development along metro corridors in the Lutyens’ and Civil Lines Bungalow Areas, removing polluting industries and hazardous trades from the Walled City. Also, heritage walks and cultural activities will be promoted across the national Capital. For the Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone and Civil Lines Bungalow Area, the plan seeks to conserve their existing character, including avenues, large plots, extensive landscaping and low-rise development. Mixed-use development, high-intensity development along metro corridors and reduction of green cover will not be permitted. It suggested identifying…

New Delhi, Aug 20: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said students are now coming out to express themselves and this cannot be stopped, as he urged them to use this energy for bringing fundamental changes for the country’s youths. Addressing an event to mark the birth anniversary of his father, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, he said Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of India to enable everyone to tread the path of ‘swaraj’ can be achieved only if the government opens the doors to the young people and the country helps them walk on that path. The leader of opposition in…

Srinagar, 20 August 2026: Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau received a written complaint alleging that Gazala Akhter, Jr. Building Inspector, SMC, Ward No. 28, Srinagar, had demanded illegal gratification from the complainant in connection with the construction of two structures, despite the complainant having already obtained the requisite building permission from the competent authority. It was further alleged that the accused public servant was deliberately adopting delaying tactics by obstructing ongoing construction and causing harassment to the complainant with the intention of preventing him from completing the construction within the stipulated period, thereby putting the complainant under pressure to…

New Delhi, Aug 20: Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, who was serving life sentence in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, died at Safdarjung Hospital here on Thursday. According to the hospital, Kumar, aged 84 years, was brought to the medical facility by police with altered sensorium. “Sajjan Kumar, aged 84 years, was brought to VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital by police with altered sensorium around 11 am. He was immediately admitted and resuscitation measures were initiated,” the hospital said in a statement. “Despite providing all necessary medical and life-support measures, he could not be saved and passed away at 12:30…

Guwahati, Aug 20 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday discussed rehabilitation measures for flood victims with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reiterated his commitment to give the state full support to overcome the crisis. Sarma met Modi in New Delhi during the day and also discussed other issues upon completion of 100 days of his second term in office. “Throughout the #AssamFloodResponse, Adarniya Modi Ji remained in constant touch, closely reviewing the situation and extending every possible assistance,” Sarma said in a social media post. The CM said he shared with Modi the Assam government’s roadmap for the…

New Delhi, Aug 20: The Supreme Court on Thursday granted the Centre one more week to constitute a panel to formulate a uniform national policy on post-retirement benefits and facilities for former High Court judges. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati’s request for additional time to set up the committee. The bench said the matter would be listed after 10 days and warned that if the Centre failed to constitute the panel, the court would consider setting up one itself. The proposed panel…

Srinagar, Aug 20: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said there was no need to take the United States “so seriously”, arguing that its interventions around the world had largely resulted in destruction. Her remarks came a day after US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited Srinagar and said Jammu and Kashmir was an important part of India. He also indicated that the US could reconsider its travel advisory for J&K. “There is no need to take the US so seriously. We have seen that the US has caused destruction everywhere it intervened — from Vietnam to Iran,” Mehbooba told reporters.…

Lucknow, Aug 20 : A bank employee allegedly shot dead his wife, a bank official, and his sister before shooting himself in the Gomti Nagar area here around 12:15 pm on Thursday, police said. In a WhatsApp status posted before killing himself, the accused Manas Mishra alleged that he killed his wife because she had “betrayed” him. The incident occurred outside an ICICI Bank branch in Gomti Nagar, where the woman, identified as Divya Mishra (37), worked as a relationship manager. According to police, she was in her car when her husband, Manas, who was allegedly waiting in an autorickshaw, called…