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LIC clocks 4% rise in Q1 consolidated profit; NII also grow

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LIC Housing Finance cuts lending rates to 7.50 %on new home loans

Mumbai, Aug 7: Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), the country’s largest life insurer, on Thursday reported a 3.91 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase in its consolidated net profit for the June quarter of the current financial year (Q1 FY26).

The profit rose to Rs 10,957 crore from Rs 10,544 crore recorded in the same period previous year (Q1 FY25), according to its stock exchange filing.

LIC’s net premium income also showed steady growth. For the quarter under review, it stood at Rs 1,19,618.41 crore — marking a 4.7 per cent rise from Rs 1,14,230.24 crore in Q1 FY25.

“During the first quarter of this financial year, our overall market share by First Year Premium Income was 63.51 per cent and we maintained our leadership in both Individual and Group Business,” R Doraiswamy, CEO and MD, LIC said.

“Key elements of our strategy like increase in Non Par share in Individual business, increase in VNB margin, increase in Banca share are fully on track,” Doraiswamy added.

On a standalone basis, LIC posted a 5 per cent YoY increase in profit, which rose to Rs 10,986.51 crore compared to Rs 10,461.05 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

The company saw strong momentum in its non-participating (non-par) business. The share of non-par APE (annualised premium equivalent) in the individual segment climbed to 30.34 per cent during the quarter, up from 23.94 per cent in the same period previous year.

Greater Kashmir

Jammu Airport records 1.61 mn passengers in 2024-25; 188 weekly aircraft movements’

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Jammu Airport records 1.61 mn passengers in 2024-25; 188 weekly aircraft movements’

Jammu, Aug 07: Jammu Airport has seen a significant surge in air traffic, with a total of 1.61 million passengers travelling through the airport during the year 2024-25.

The data was revealed in response to a question raised by Jugal Kishore, a Member of Parliament, in the Lok Sabha.

The response was provided by Murlidhar Mohol, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation. He said scheduled Indian operators have connected Jammu to several major cities, including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Srinagar, and Leh. These routes saw a total of 188 weekly aircraft movements, which include both arrivals and departures.

The increase in air travel has been a major boost for both local and tourist traffic, enhancing Jammu’s connectivity to various parts of the country, the minister said.

The government said that air connectivity is expected to play a crucial role in supporting its economic growth, tourism, and overall infrastructure development.

“The rise in the number of weekly aircraft movements indicates a strong demand for travel from Jammu, and the continued expansion of these routes will likely contribute to even higher passenger traffic in the coming years,” the minister said. KNO)

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SC to hear J&K statehood case on August 14

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SC to hear on July 24 Maharashtra govt’s plea against Bombay HC verdict SC-Train blast

Srinagar, Aug 07: The Supreme Court of India is set to hear the Jammu and Kashmir statehood case (Zahoor Ahmad Bhat & Anr vs Union of India) on August 14, sources confirmed on Thursday.

Earlier, the plea was scheduled to be heard on August 8; however, sources have confirmed that the case will now be taken up on August 14. “the Supreme Court will hear the J&K statehood case (Zahoor Ahmad Bhat & Anr vs UOI) on 14.08.2025.” they said.

As per a report by the Hindustan Times, on August 5 (Tuesday), the application was mentioned by senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the two applicants — academic Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and social activist Khurshaid Ahmad Malik — who had, in October 2024, approached the top court seeking restoration of statehood within a specific time frame, preferably within two months.

Appearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R. Gavai, the senior advocate stated that the matter was listed on the List of Business for August 8 and requested that it not be deleted. The CJI allowed the request by passing a short order: “Not to be deleted,” the report said.

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ECI asks Rahul to give complaint on oath or stop spreading lies

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Vote theft charge: ECI asks Rahul to give complaint on oath or stop spreading lies

New Delhi, Aug 07: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday issued a strong rebuttal to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “vote theft” in Karnataka, asking him to give a complaint on oath or stop misleading citizens.

Issuing a “Fact Check” on the allegations made by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, the ECI also circulated a format for a declaration on oath which Gandhi could use for filing a complaint related to allegations he made about the 2024 Lok Sabha election voter list in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura Assembly segment.

Claiming that the statements made are misleading, the ECI said: “If Rahul Gandhi believes what he is saying is true, then he should sign the Declaration/Oath as per Rule 20 (3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules 1960 and submit the same to ECO of Karnataka by today evening itself so that necessary proceedings can be initiated.”

The ECI also asked the LoP to refrain from arriving at “absurd conclusions”.

“If Rahul Gandhi does not believe in what he is saying, then he should stop arriving at absurd conclusions and misleading the citizens of India,” said the ECI.

Earlier in the day, Gandhi alleged massive electoral fraud in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment of Karnataka’s Bangalore Central constituency during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and stated that similar manipulation was allegedly happening across the country.

Claiming that his statement was backed by data collected over six months by a team of over 30-40 people, the senior Congress MP accused the ECI of colluding with the BJP to manipulate voter roll, suppress scrutiny, and enable voter theft on a significant scale.

According to Rahul Gandhi, the Congress received 6,26,208 votes in Bangalore Central, while the BJP secured 6,58,915 votes — a margin of 32,707.

However, a deeper examination of the Mahadevapura Assembly segment, a part of this Lok Sabha seat, revealed a massive discrepancy. Here, BJP polled 2,29,632 votes while the Congress managed only 1,15,586 — a staggering gap of 1,14,046 votes.

LoP Gandhi claimed that at least 1,00,250 votes were stolen in this single Assembly segment alone and the same was being done across the country.

“First, duplicate voters. As many as 11,965 entries were found to be duplicated across multiple booths and even states. Names like Gurkirat Singh and Aditya Shrivastava appeared multiple times and in the case of Shrivastava, his name appeared in different states — Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh,” said LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

Gandhi’s allegations against the ECI invited criticism Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju who accused him and his party of maligning constitutional institutions like the ECI and the Supreme Court, whenever decisions do not favour them.

Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Rijiju termed the Congress party’s criticism of the poll panel over alleged voter list manipulation as “bogus” and politically motivated.

“The claims made by Rahul Gandhi and his team are bogus. They are targeting the Election Commission to tarnish its image,” Kiren Rijiju said.

He pointed out that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a long-standing exercise, not new or politically driven.

“SIR has happened numerous times, even since the time of independence. In Maharashtra, when Congress and its allies won most Lok Sabha seats, they praised the same electoral rolls. But when they lost in the Assembly elections, the same rolls suddenly became a problem,” Kiren Rijiju said.

Greater Kashmir

Gaza aid distribution is “orchestrated killing”, says MSF

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Over 100 killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza

Gaza, August 07: The medical nonprofit Doctors Without Borders has urged an immediate end to Israel’s militarised food distribution programme in Gaza, calling it a system of “institutionalised starvation and dehumanisation,” Al Jazeera reported.

In a report released Thursday titled “This is not aid. This is orchestrated killing,” the medical aid group said it operates clinics near two Global Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution sites in Rafah, southern Gaza, that are under Israeli military and US private contractor control.

According to Al Jazeera, Doctors Without Borders, better known by its French-language acronym MSF, said these sites, operational since May, have witnessed “stampedes, suffocating crowd surges, violent looting and lethal ‘crowd control’ measures”.

“The GHF distribution sites fall dangerously short of any recognised standard for safe and dignified humanitarian distributions,” the report said. “Nowhere else in the world where MSF operates – including in the most volatile conflict zones – would this level of violence around an ‘aid distribution’ site be tolerated. This must stop now.”

MSF said its teams were “mentally prepared for responding to conflict – but not to civilians killed and maimed while seeking aid.”

According to Al Jazeera, the nonprofit noted that its primary care clinics have turned into mass casualty units since GHF took over aid distribution.

Between June and July, MSF received 1,380 injured people and 28 bodies at its clinics in Gaza’s al-Attar and al-Mawasi areas, located near the two GHF sites, Al Jazeera reported.

Of those treated, 174 suffered gunshot wounds, including women and children. “A significant number of patients from GHF sites in Khan Younis arrived with gunshot wounds to their lower limbs bearing a precision that strongly suggests intentional targeting of people within the distribution sites, rather than accidental or indiscriminate fire,” the report said.

Al Jazeera further cited MSF, stating that patients also sustained injuries from “crowd control” measures like pepper spray and physical assault. Many arrived covered in dust and sand, “from time spent lying on the ground while taking cover from bullets.”

“People are being shot like animals,” an MSF coordinator said in the report. “They’re not armed. They’re not soldiers. They’re civilians carrying plastic bags, hoping to bring home some flour or pasta. And my question is: how high is the price they have to pay for one bag of food?”

Greater Kashmir

Non-antibiotic drugs can disrupt microbiome, raise gut infection risk

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Non-antibiotic drugs can disrupt microbiome, raise gut infection risk

New Delhi, Aug 07: While antibiotics are known to harm the gut microbiome, a new study showed that non-antibiotic drugs can also alter the microbiome and increase the risk of gut infections.

However, it has been unclear which of these disruptions might be readily tolerated and which disruptions increase the risk of health complications.

In the new study, researchers from Yale University in the US identified several common prescription, non-antibiotic drugs that altered the gut microbiome, and discovered that at least one of these drugs triggers mice to produce anti-microbial agents that target their own gut microbes.

The findings, published in the journal Nature, suggest the microbiome could influence why some people respond well to drugs, while others don’t. And it could be a target for improving drug responses in individuals.

Individuals with disrupted microbiomes are also at increased risk of gastrointestinal (GI) infection because decreased colonisation resistance makes it more difficult for gut microbes to fight off pathogens, the researchers said.

For the study, the team analysed over a decade’s worth of medical records and pharmacy claims data from 1 million anonymous individuals enrolled in universal health insurance in Montreal, Canada, to determine the incidence of GI infections.

“We found prescription drugs that increased people’s risk of infections to the same degree that antibiotics would,” said Andrew Goodman, Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis, chair of microbial pathogenesis at Yale School of Medicine.

Based on their findings, the researchers selected 21 drugs for further study.

To explore how these prescription drugs impacted the microbiome, the researchers treated mice with each drug and analysed faecal samples collected from the mice before the first dose and after the final dose.

The researchers found that about half of the drugs were associated with changes in microbiome composition.

And four — congestive heart failure medication digoxin, anti-seizure and anti-anxiety drug clonazepam, stomach acid-reducer pantoprazole, and anti-psychotic medication quetiapine — were also associated with an increased risk of infection following pathogen exposure.

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3 killed, 13 injured in blast in Pak’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

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Forest fire trigger landmine blasts along LoC in Poonch

Peshawar, Aug 07: At least three people were killed and 13 others, including three police personnel, injured in a bomb blast in northwestern Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday, police said.

District Police Officer Tahir Shah said the improvised explosive device (IED) blast occurred close to a police patrol vehicle near a taxi stand in Wana tehsil in South Waziristan district.

At least two people were killed on the spot and another succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.

Tahir said security forces have been deployed in the area following the blast and subsequent firing. The injured were shifted to Wana Headquarters Hospital.

Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in terrorist attacks, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, since the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) called off its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.

Greater Kashmir

NIA court frames charges against 2 in terror funding case probed by CIK

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NIA launches probe into killing of Pahalgam attack mastermind in Srinagar encounter

Srinagar, Aug 07: In a significant breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to dismantle the financial and logistical support system of terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir, the NIA court in Srinagar has framed charges in a high-profile terror funding case.

According to a statement, charges have been framed against two accused– Shabir Ahmad Bhat of Kakapora and Javaid Ahmad Yatoo of Pampore–while criminal proceedings have also been initiated against absconding Pakistan based LeT handler Sumama alias Babar alias Ilyas, who is also an accused in the case.

“The investigation was conducted by Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK). The case pertains to a criminal conspiracy by handlers and commanders of the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) from across the Line of Control (LoC), who, in close coordination with Pakistani nationals based in Gulf countries and other foreign territories, have been channeling terror funds into Jammu & Kashmir,” it reads.

It added these funds were being routed through a well-organized network using couriers camouflaged as pilgrims, expatriates, and businessmen, thereby camouflaging illicit financial flows under the guise of religious and commercial travel.

“During the course of investigation, it was established that Shabir Ahmad Bhat was in constant and secure communication with the Pakistan-based LeT handler Sumama, using encrypted messaging applications. While in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, Shabir, on the instructions of the handler, received large sums of Saudi Riyals from known LeT conduits in Madina. Additionally, he coordinated with other Kashmiri residents who had travelled for Umrah, instructing them to collect money from specific individuals whose identities and locations were shared by him,” it reads.

The statement reads upon returning to Kashmir, these couriers handed over the funds to Shabir Ahmad Bhat, who then converted the foreign currency into Indian rupees and further distributed the funds among active terrorists and their families, as per directions from the LeT handler.

“The investigation also revealed the pivotal role of another accused Javaid Ahmad Yatoo in facilitating and establishing contact between Shabir Ahmad Bhat and the LeT handler in Pakistan. His involvement was instrumental in enabling the functioning of this trans-national funding module,” it added.

The statement added the framing of charges in this case marks an important milestone in the sustained efforts of Counter Intelligence Kashmir to identify, expose and dismantle terror funding networks operating under the radar.

It reads that two more individuals – Mohammad Ayoub Bhat of Budgam and Mohammad Rafiq Shah of Srinagar have also been recently arrested in the case.

“The investigation led to the seizure of electronic devices, bank statements, transaction logs, and other documents which expose a deeply embedded and covert hawala infrastructure used to fund terrorism,” it added.

The statement reads these recoveries have further corroborated the existence of a well-structured, underground financial network sustaining terrorism in the region. “Arrests of additional co-conspirators are likely as the investigation continues to unfold”. (KNO)

Greater Kashmir

“Why should we stop at 17%? We should also raise it to 50%” says Shashi Tharoor on US tariffs

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Tharoor slams ‘zealots’; says was clearly speaking only about reprisals for terrorist attacks

New Delhi, August 07: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said that India should also raise tariffs on American goods to 50 per cent in response to the US imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports.

Tharoor questioned why India should stop at the current 17 per cent tariff and emphasised that the country should not be intimidated by such actions. He also said that no country should be allowed to threaten India in this manner.

Speaking to the reporters, Shashi Tharoor said, “It will definitely have an impact because we have a trade of $90 billion with them, and if everything becomes 50% more expensive, buyers will also think why should they buy Indian things?… If they do this, we should also impose a 50% tariff on American exports… It is not that any country can threaten us like this…”

“Our average tariffs on American goods are 17%. Why should we stop at 17%? We should also raise it to 50%… We need to ask them, do they not value our relationship? If India doesn’t matter to them, they should also not matter to us,” he added.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on August 6 imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on imports from India. Trump cited matters of national security and foreign policy concerns, as well as other relevant trade laws, for the increase, claiming that India’s imports of Russian oil, directly or indirectly, pose an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States.
Terming the United States’ move to impose additional tariffs on India over its oil imports from Russia as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declared that New Delhi will take “all actions necessary to protect its national interests.

In further development, a senior United States Administration Official said that there is simply “no comparison” between the hundreds of billions of dollars of growing Indian imports of Russian oil and the modest US imports of Russian goods.

In response to a question, the US official said, “There is simply no comparison between the hundreds of billions of dollars of growing Indian imports of Russian oil, and the modest U.S. imports of Russian goods, which amount to less than 1% of the value of Indian imports”.

Greater Kashmir

Putin to visit India later this month, reports Russian media

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President Putin calls PM Modi, condemns Pahalgam terror attack, offers full support

Moscow, Aug 07: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India is expected at the end of August, a leading news agency of the country reported on Thursday citing comments made by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval during his ongoing visit to Moscow.

“We have now established very good relations, which we value very much, a strategic partnership between our countries. We interact at a high level… We were pleased to learn about President Putin’s visit to our country, scheduled for late August,” the Interfax news agency quoted NSA Doval as saying at a meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in Moscow on Thursday.

Earlier, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov had confirmed that Putin is expected to visit India following an invitation from Prime Minister Modi.

The visit is being planned as part of the ongoing commitment to annual meetings between the two leaders.

“Our leaders have an agreement to meet once a year. This time, it is our turn,” Ushakov had said during a press briefing.

The last visit by the Russian President to India took place on December 6, 2021, during the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi.

PM Modi, meanwhile, held two high-profile visits to Russia last year, attending the 22nd Russia-India Summit in July and later participated in the BRICS Summit held in Kazan in October.

Citing that the political dialogue between India and Russia is “developing dynamically” and is facilitated by the fact that Moscow and New Delhi “have close or even coinciding views on the objectively emerging multipolar world order”, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had also indicated that preparations are being made for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to India.

“Relations between our countries have a long history. It can be said that they have stood the test of time more than once. Today, Russia and India are developing equal cooperation based on sincere, mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests,” Lavrov told the participants of the first international conference ‘Russia and India: Towards a New Agenda for Bilateral Relations’ which was also addressed by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar in March, this year.

“It is difficult to overestimate the contribution of our leaders to this process. It is symbolic that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first bilateral foreign visit after his re-election last year to Russia. Now it is our turn. Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted the invitation of the head of the Indian government. The visit of the head of the Russian state to the Republic of India is being prepared,” he added.

In June, the Russian President sent a message of condolences to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the passenger plane crash in Ahmedabad.

“Please accept the deepest condolences over the tragic consequences of a passenger plane crash in Ahmedabad. Kindly convey the words of sincere sympathy and support to the families and near ones of the victims, as well as wishes for a speedy recovery to all those injured in this catastrophe,” said Putin

In May, President Putin also called Prime Minister Modi and “strongly condemned” the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, offering “full support” to India in its ongoing fight against terrorism.

A statement issued by the Kremlin said that Putin expressed sincere condolences to PM Modi over the death of Indian citizens as a result of the barbaric terrorist attack on April 22 and emphasised the need for an “uncompromising fight” against terrorism in any form.

“During the conversation, the strategic nature of Russian-Indian relations of a special privileged partnership was emphasised. These relations are not subject to external influence and continue to develop dynamically in all directions,” read the statement issued by the Russian President’s office.

“The Indian leader reiterated his invitation to the Russian President to visit India for the traditional annual bilateral summit. The invitation was accepted with gratitude,” it added.

PM Modi, who had also been invited by Putin for the participation in the Victory Day celebrations, however could not travel to Russia.

The Russian President had earlier extended his condolences to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi over the tragic consequences of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

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