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JKCSF demands immediate action against illegal mining in Ferozpora Nallah

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JKCSF demands immediate action against illegal mining in Ferozpora Nallah

Srinagar, July 02: The Chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Society Forum (JKCSF), Mr. Abdul Qayoom Wani, expressed deep anguish over the rampant and illegal mining of the Ferozpora Nallah at Kachmatipora, Soiepora, and Ogmuna. He stated that the unregulated extraction is causing irreversible ecological damage, while the concerned departments remain silent spectators.

In a statement issuaed to the Greater Kashmir, the JKCSF chairman said, “Despite the worsening ground situation and repeated cries from the local population, Flood & Irrigation, Environment, Agriculture, and Horticulture Departments have failed to act, raising serious concerns of negligence or silent complicity.”

“The area has turned into a hub of loot where natural resources are being ravaged in broad daylight. This is nothing less than ‘bajri terrorism’ — a systematic plunder of riverbeds that threatens agricultural lands, horticultural balance, and the overall ecology,” he added.

He said, Local residents are suffering gravely due to drying water sources, soil degradation, crop damage, disrupted irrigation, and hazardous conditions created by overloaded trucks and heavy machinery. Farms are turning barren and environmental balance is collapsing.

Wani said, the JKCSF strongly demands: A time-bound probe into illegal mining activities; immediate suspension of all ongoing extraction in the affected regions; accountability of officials and contractors involved; restoration measures to revive the damaged river ecology; and formation of a community oversight committee to prevent future violations.

JKCSF warned that if authorities continue to turn a blind eye, civil society may be forced to launch peaceful public demonstrations across the region to protect the natural wealth and livelihoods of the people.

Greater Kashmir

Sabotage angle being probed in Ahmedabad plane crash: Union Minister

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Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu assures "fair and thorough" investigation into Ahmedabad plane crash

Srinagar, July 2: Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, stated that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is examining all possible angles—including sabotage—in the Air India plane crash that killed 274 people on board and on the ground in Ahmedabad last month.

He also confirmed that the black box from flight AI 171 has been recovered and is currently in the custody of the AAIB. “It will not be sent abroad for analysis; all assessments will be conducted within the country,” he added.

Officials said the aircraft lost altitude soon after taking off at around 1.30pm. It crashed into the residential quarters of BJ Medical College doctors in Meghaninagar area before going up in flames, sending plumes of thick black smoke spiralling up in the air.

Besides the crash, the minister spoke on issues such as 419 technical vacancies in the DGCA, the alleged exploitation of pilots by private airlines and on means to make air travel cheaper.

“The DGCA will soon begin working on the issue of technical vacancies,” he said.

Asked if private airlines can make key appointments on their own, he said: “No appointments can be made without the DGCA’s approval. Private airlines cannot take whoever they want. You need certain qualifications, etc.”

Murlidhar Mohol  said that the black boxes recovered from the crash site are in the custody of the AAIB and will not be sent to any foreign country for thorough assessment.

The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was recovered from the rooftop of a building on June 13 while the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) was found in the debris on June 16.

The investigation team led by AAIB DG G.V.G. Yugandhar includes an aviation medicine specialist, an ATC officer, and representatives from the US government’s National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greater Kashmir

PDP’s Waheed Para slams govt over delay in filling Advocate General’s position

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PDP’s Waheed Para slams govt over delay in filling Advocate General’s position

Srinagar, July 02: Peoples Democratic Party leader and Pulwama MLA Waheed ur Rehman Para on Wednesday slammed the government for leaving the Advocate General’s position vacant, stating that nine months have passed since the government was elected.

He questioned the government, “why delay?”.

Terming it a “deliberate” inaction, Para said, “At a time when critical constitutional matters stemming from August 5, are in courts, this vacuum is deliberate”.

In a post on X, Para wrote, “9 months into an elected government, J&K still has no Advocate General. At a time when critical constitutional matters stemming from August 5, are in courts, this vacuum is deliberate. In a border state facing cross-border threats, denying legal aid and advice stalls justice, accountability, and healing. Why delay?”

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First batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims arrive in Udhampur, receive warm welcome under tight security

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First batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims arrive in Udhampur, receive warm welcome under tight security

Udhampur July 02: The Amarnath Yatra will officially commence on July 3, and the first batch of pilgrims reached the Udhampur’s first base camp, Kali Mata Temple, on Wednesday.

The pilgrims were warmly welcomed by Nalini Prabhat, Chairman, District Development Council, Udhampur, Lal Chand, elected representatives, DIG Udhampur Reasi Range, Sarah Rizvi, Deputy Commissioner, Saloni Rai, SSP Amod Ashok Nagpure, and other officers of the District Administration and Jammu and Kashmir Police, and prominent citizens of the District.

Deputy Commissioner Saloni Rai said, “As per past practices, when the Yatra reaches Udhampur, we welcome them in Kali Mata Temple. We also organise a cultural programme for them here.”

The enthusiastic participation of residents in welcoming the pilgrims reflects the region’s deep-rooted tradition of hospitality. Local communities have historically played a crucial role in supporting the Amarnath Yatra, providing assistance and creating a conducive environment for the pilgrims’ spiritual journey.

Deputy Commissioner Saloni Rai said that extensive security measures have been put in place to guarantee the safety and smooth operation of the pilgrimage. “Proper arrangements of security have been done,” she said, underlining the administration’s efforts towards providing a peaceful and secure Yatra experience for all pilgrims.

Raj, one of the devotees from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, came for the first time along with his friends and family and said, “I am very excited for the Yatra. I have full faith in the government that they have arranged good security and will not let anything happen.”

Kailash Singh from Madhya Pradesh, who also came to participate in the Yatra along with 60 to 65 other people, said, “I have no fear. There is military and security everywhere.”

The armed forces and the Jammu and Kashmir Police have joined hands to provide comprehensive security to the lakhs of pilgrims undertaking the challenging yet spiritually enriching journey to the holy cave shrine at an altitude of 3,888 meters in the Himalayas

Greater Kashmir

Without EV subsidies, Musk to close up shop, head back home to South Africa: Trump

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Elon Musk renews criticism of Trump's big bill as it faces key Senate vote

New Delhi, July 02: US President Donald Trump has issued a deportation warning for Tesla and Space CEO Elon Musk who also served as his former advisor, saying the tech billionaire may need to “close up shop” and move back to South Africa in absence of electric vehicle (EV) subsidies.

Trump’s warning on his Truth Social platform late on Tuesday (US time) came amid the feud between him and Musk over the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’.

“Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate. It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one. Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!” the US President further added.

Trump had appointed Musk the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Meanwhile, Musk has threatened to unseat the lawmakers who support the unpopular package.

“Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame,” Musk, who was Trump’s presidential advisor till May, said in a post on X.

“And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” he added.

Musk also warned that he would launch a new party — the American Party — if lawmakers pass Trump’s spending bill in the Senate.

The US Senate on Saturday narrowly advanced President Trump’s major tax-cut and spending bill, marking a key procedural step toward passing the legislation before the upcoming July 4 recess.

The 940-page package, formally titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, was approved in a 51-49 procedural vote late Saturday night, setting the stage for formal debate. The bill aims to extend the 2017 tax cuts, cut other taxes and boost military and border security spending, while offsetting revenue losses through deep cuts to Medicaid, food stamps, renewable energy and other social welfare programmes.

Greater Kashmir

DERMIS clinic brings US-FDA approved Dermafrac to Kashmir

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DERMIS clinic brings US-FDA approved Dermafrac to Kashmir

Srinagar, Jul 2: DERMIS Skin, Laser & Hair Transplant Clinic has launched Dermagenesis (Dermafrac)—a US-FDA approved, minimally invasive skin therapy device, for the first time in the Kashmir region, raising the benchmark in cosmetic dermatology in the valley.

As per a handout issued by the clinic, this high-precision aesthetic system delivers dermal infusion of active ingredients via controlled microchannels, enhancing skin texture, tone, hydration, and collagen stimulation. “It is especially beneficial for patients seeking treatment for acne scarring, melasma, fine lines, and sun-induced damage—with no discomfort or downtime,” added the handout.

Dr. Mir Shahnawaz, a reputed dermatologist and owner of the clinic, said: “The arrival of Dermagenesis in Kashmir is a significant step toward integrating international dermatological advancements into local practice. Our patients now have access to globally trusted, FDA-cleared technology right here in Srinagar.”

Greater Kashmir

Indian stock market opens higher, IT stocks shine

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Indian stock market opens higher, IT stocks shine

Mumbai, July 02: The Indian benchmark indices opened higher on Wednesday amid positive global cues, as buying was seen in the IT and auto sectors in the early trade.

At around 9.23 am, Sensex was trading 225.5 points or 0.27 per cent up at 83,922.79 while the Nifty added 58.75 points or 0.23 per cent at 25,600.55.

According to analysts, after breaking the 24,500-25,000 range, Nifty has moved to the new range of 25,200-25,800.

Positive news about a possible trade deal between India and US can help break the upper limit of the range but it would be difficult to sustain the Nifty at higher levels for long, they added.

Nifty Bank was down 45.20 points or 0.08 per cent at 57,414.25 in early trade. The Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 59,809.25 after adding 59.20 points or 0.25 per cent. Nifty Smallcap 100 index was at 19,082.10 after climbing 26.40 points or 0.14 per cent.

“The charts of Bank Nifty indicate that it may get support at 57,300 followed by 57,000 and 56,800. If the index advances further, 57,650 would be the initial key resistance, followed by 57,800 and 58,000,” said Hardik Matalia Derivative Analyst of Choice Broking.

Meanwhile, in the Sensex pack, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, ICICI Bank, TCS, Tata Steel, Bharti Airtel, HCL Tech and Adani Ports were the top gainers. Whereas, Asian Paints, HDFC Bank, BEL and Eternal were the top losers.

The foreign institutional investors (FIIs) extended their selling on July 1 as they sold equities worth Rs 1,970.14 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) continued their buying as they bought equities worth Rs 771.08 crore on the same day.

In the Asian markets, Bangkok, China, Japan, Seoul and Jakarta were trading in red, whereas only Hong Kong was trading in green.

In the last trading session, Dow Jones in the US closed at 44,494.94, up 400.17 points, or 0.91 per cent. The S&P 500 ended with a loss of 6.90 points, or 0.11 per cent at 6,198.05 and the Nasdaq closed at 20,202.89, down 166.85 points, or 0.82 per cent.

Greater Kashmir

Quad condemns Pahalgam terror attack, calls for perpetrators to be punished

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Quad condemns Pahalgam terror attack, calls for perpetrators to be punished

Washington DC, July 02: The Quad members unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms, the Joint Statement from the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting stated.

The members, referring to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

“The Quad unequivocally condemns all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and renews our commitment to counterterrorism cooperation. We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, while injuring several others. We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and extend our heartfelt wishes for a swift and full recovery to all those injured,” the statement said.

“We call for the perpetrators, organizers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice without any delay and urge all UN Member States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant UNSCRs, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard,” the statement added.

The statement also highlighted that the Quad launched the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative to strengthen economic security.

“In the face of these challenges, we are proud to announce today key initiatives that the Quad is advancing to strengthen maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technology, and support humanitarian assistance and emergency response across the Indo-Pacific. We are launching today the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, an ambitious expansion of our partnership to strengthen economic security and collective resilience by collaborating to secure and diversify critical minerals supply chains,” the statement said.

The leaders also launched Quad Critical Minerals Initiative to strengthen logistics and also planned to launch Quad Ports of the Future Partnership in Mumbai.

“We continue to deepen our cooperation on maritime law enforcement cooperation through regional training initiatives, maritime legal dialogues, and Coast Guard cooperation. We plan to host the first Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network field training exercise this year to strengthen shared airlift capacity and leverage our collective logistics strengths to respond to natural disasters more rapidly and efficiently, providing support for regional partners. We also plan to launch the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership in Mumbai this year,” the statement said.

The statement further said that the countries have contributed to coordinate responses in the event of natural disasters in the region. For example- to support communities affected by the earthquake that struck central Myanmar in March 2025.

“We continue to coordinate rapid responses to regional disasters and collectively contributed over USD $30 million in humanitarian assistance to support communities affected by the earthquake that struck central Myanmar in March 2025. We will continue to counter foreign efforts to push false narratives and interfere with Quad interests in the Indo-Pacific,” the statement said.

The members said that the Quad is committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“As the Quad continues to evolve, our four democracies remain committed to deepening our cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and ensuring our cooperation has an enduring impact on the region’s top challenges and opportunities in the 21st century. We look forward to the next Quad Leaders’ Summit hosted by India later this year and the next Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting hosted by Australia in 2026,” the statement said.

The statement said that the Quad was concerned about the crisis in Myanmar in the region.

“We remain deeply concerned by the worsening crisis in Myanmar and its impact on the region. We call on the regime to adhere to its commitment to a ceasefire, and call on all parties to implement, extend and broaden ceasefire measures. We reaffirm our strong support for ASEAN’s efforts, including calling for the full and effective implementation of the Five Point Consensus in seeking an inclusive, durable, and peaceful resolution to the crisis. We call on all parties to allow safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance. We are also concerned about the impact of the crisis on regional security and the spread of transnational crimes. We are committed to fighting cybercrime and online scam operations,” the statement added.

The statement was agreed upon by the Secretary of State of the United States, the Foreign Minister of Australia, the External Affairs Minister of India, and the Foreign Minister of Japan after the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Tuesday.

Greater Kashmir

Several shops damaged in fire incident at main market Kangan, Ganderbal

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Several shops damaged in fire incident at main market Kangan, Ganderbal

Kangan, July 02: Several shops were gutted early Wednesday morning in a fire incident in the main market of Kangan in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir

Reports said that fire broke out on early morning which engulfed few adjacent shops at the main market due to which the shops gutted completely.

An official said that the cause of fire yet to be ascertained.

Greater Kashmir

US Senate passes Trump’s landmark mega-bill

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Trump’s reciprocal tariffs take effect undeterred by negotiations

Washington, July 02: The GOP-led Senate passed US President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, a major stride toward Trump’s goal of getting the legislation to his desk and signed by this week’s end.

The sweeping bill passed narrowly by 51 to 50, with US Vice President JD Vance casting the deciding ballot. Three Republicans were the only GOP lawmakers to vote no: senators Susan Collins, Thom Tillis and Rand Paul.

The legislation is considered the GOP’s biggest legislative win in the lead-up to next year’s midterms, in which the party could lose its slim majority in the House, Xinhua news agency reported.

The bill extends Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, slashes taxes on tips and provides new spending for the military and border security.

“Today was a historic day … and we’re very excited to be a part of something that is going to make America stronger, safer and more prosperous,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said after the bill passed the Senate.

But there remains one more major hurdle ahead, as the bill needs to be passed in the House of Representatives, which is expected to vote as early as Wednesday.

“It’s a great bill. There is something for everyone, and I think it’s going to go very nicely in the House. Actually, I think it will be easier in the House than it was in the Senate,” Trump said.

However, Democrats have been vehemently opposed to the mega-bill, which funds an agenda to which Democrats stand in stark contrast.

Democrats have blasted the tax cuts in the bill as reductions that benefit the wealthy. Republicans maintain that the cuts will help the middle class.

The bill has angered Democrats for what the party says are cuts to essential programs such as Medicaid — health care coverage for low-income people — as well as to food stamps.

Democrats also fret the bill will add trillions of US dollars to the surging national debt.

An analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said the changes Trump made in the Senate version of the bill would add trillions of dollars to the already significant national debt, and that the bill would create considerable losses in health care coverage.

The CBO has predicted that the bill would add $2.4 trillion to the national debt in the next 10 years, while also pushing up the deficit by around $3.3 trillion between 2025 and 2034.

The CBO’s analysis also forecast that the bill would cause 11.8 million more Americans to lose their insurance by 2034, which, as experts have said, will surely create hurdles for the bill’s passage in the House before Trump’s July 4 deadline.

Greater Kashmir

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