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Trump says ‘with a high degree of certainty’ that suspect in Charlie Kirk killing has been caught

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Trump says Israel agreed on terms for 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, warns Hamas to accept deal

United States, Sep 12: President Donald Trump said Friday that the suspect in the Charlie Kirk killing has been captured. “With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” Trump announced in a live interview on Fox News Channel on Friday morning.

Trump said a minister who is also involved with law enforcement turned in the suspect to authorities. “Somebody that was very close to him said, Hmm, that’s him,’” Trump said.

Kirk was killed by a single shot Wednesday in what police said was a targeted attack and Utah’s governor called a political assassination. Kirk co-founded the nonprofit political organisation Turning Point USA and was a close ally of Trump.

Authorities recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle near the scene and had said the shooter jumped off a roof and vanished into the woods after the shooting.

Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by Turning Point at Utah Valley University at the time of the shooting. He was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead hours later.

Federal investigators and state officials on Thursday had released photos and a video of the person they believe is responsible. Kirk was shot as he spoke to a crowd gathered in a courtyard at Utah Valley University in Orem.

More than 7,000 leads and tips had poured in, officials said. Authorities have yet to publicly name the suspect or cite a motive in the killing, the latest act of political violence to convulse the United States.

The attack, carried out in broad daylight as Kirk spoke about social issues, was captured on grisly videos that spread on social media.

The videos show Kirk, who played an influential role in rallying young Republican voters, speaking into a handheld microphone when suddenly a shot rings out. Kirk reaches up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.

The shooter, who investigators believe blended into the campus crowd because of a college-age appearance, fired one shot from the rooftop, according to authorities. Video released Thursday showed the person then walking through the grass and across the street before disappearing.

“I can tell you this was a targeted event,” said Robert Bohls, the top FBI agent in Salt Lake City.

Trump, who was joined by Democrats in condemning the violence, said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the US.

Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, visited with Kirk’s family Thursday in Salt Lake City. Vance posted a remembrance on X chronicling their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s Senate run and the 2024 election.

“So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organise and convene,” Vance wrote. “He didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.”

Kirk’s casket was flown aboard Air Force Two from Utah to Phoenix, where his nonprofit political youth organisation, Turning Point USA, is based. Trump told reporters he plans to attend Kirk’s funeral. Details have not been announced.

Kirk was taking questions about gun violence

Kirk was a conservative provocateur who became a powerful political force among young Republicans and was a fixture on college campuses, where he invited sometimes-vehement debate on social issues.

One such provocative exchange played out immediately before the shooting as Kirk was taking questions from an audience member about gun violence.

The debate hosted by Turning Point at the Sorensen Centre on campus was billed as the first stop on Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour.”

The event generated a polarizing campus reaction. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures. The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry and constructive dialogue.”

Last week, Kirk posted on X images of news clips showing his visit was sparking controversy. He wrote, “What’s going on in Utah?”

Attendees barricaded themselves in classrooms

Some attendees who bolted after the gunshot rushed into two classrooms full of students. They used tables to barricade the door and to shield themselves in the corners. Someone grabbed an electric pencil sharpener and wrapped the cord tightly around the door handle, then tied the sharpener to a chair leg.

Meanwhile, the shooting continued to draw swift bipartisan condemnation as Democratic officials joined Trump and other Republican allies of Kirk in decrying the attack, which unfolded during a spike of political violence that has touched a range of ideologies and representatives of both major political parties.

Greater Kashmir

Just 4 days of junk food can mess up your memory, cognitive skills: Study

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Just 4 days of junk food can mess up your memory, cognitive skills: Study

New Delhi, Sep 12: Love to binge on cheeseburgers and fries? Beware, just four days of these fatty foods can rewire the brain’s memory hub — leading to risk of cognitive dysfunction, according to a study.

The research led by the University of North Carolina (UNC) in the US suggests that fatty junk foods can affect the brain almost immediately, well before the onset of weight gain or diabetes.

The results open the door to early interventions that can prevent even long-term memory loss associated with obesity, which is mainly driven by Western-style junk food rich in saturated fat.

The findings, published in the journal Neuron, showed that a special group of brain cells in the hippocampus — called CCK interneurons — become overly active after eating a high-fat diet (HFD), due to an impaired ability of the brain to receive glucose (sugar).

This overactivity disrupts how the hippocampus processes memory, even after just a few days of a high-fat diet, said Juan Song, Principal Investigator and professor of pharmacology at UNC School of Medicine.

The discovery also showed that a protein called PKM2, which controls how brain cells use energy, plays a key role in this problem.

“We knew that diet and metabolism could affect brain health, but we didn’t expect to find such a specific and vulnerable group of brain cells, CCK interneurons in the hippocampus, that were directly disrupted by short-term high-fat diet exposure,” Song said, who is a member of the UNC Neuroscience Center.

“What surprised us most was how quickly these cells changed their activity in response to reduced glucose availability, and how this shift alone was enough to impair memory,” added Song.

For the study, the team placed mouse models on a high-fat diet resembling fatty junk food before starting behavioural testing.

Within four days of eating a high-fat diet, results showed CCK interneurons in the brain’s memory hub became abnormally active.

The research also shows that restoring brain glucose levels actually calmed down overactive neurons and fixed memory problems in mice.

The study found interventions like dietary modifications or pharmacological approaches may be effective in preserving brain health for obesity-related neurodegeneration.

Notably, researchers discovered that dietary interventions like intermittent fasting periods following a high-fat diet were sufficient to normalise CCK interneurons and improve memory function.

Greater Kashmir

Gold, Silver prices surge to record levels amid US Fed rate cut expectations

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Gold halts record rally, drops Rs 2,400 to Rs 99,200 per 10 g amid easing US-China tensions

New Delhi, Sep 12 : Gold and silver prices hit fresh peaks on Friday, with the yellow metal hitting Rs 1,13,800 per 10 grams, and silver crossing Rs 1,32,000 per kilogram in the national capital, buoyed by strong global demand and heightened expectations of an interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve next week.

According to the All India Sarafa Association, the precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity extended gains for the fourth straight session by jumping Rs 700 to hit a record high of Rs 1,13,800 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes).

It had closed at Rs 1,13,100 per 10 grams in the previous market session.
The yellow metal prices have added Rs 34,850 per 10 grams or 44.14 per cent in the current calendar year, climbing from Rs 78,950 per 10 grams on December 31, 2024.

In the local bullion markets, gold of 99.5 per cent purity climbed Rs 700 to Rs 1,13,300 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes), marking its lifetime peak on Friday.
It had settled at Rs 1,12,600 per 10 grams on Thursday.

“The rally in precious metal prices is driven by recent US macroeconomic data that heightened expectations of multiple interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve before the end of 2025, which encouraged buying activity in bullion,” said Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst – Commodities at HDFC Securities.

Meanwhile, silver staged a sharp rebound, snapping its two-day losing streak with a jump of Rs 4,000 to hit an all-time high of Rs 1,32,000 per kilogram.
“Further, the silver rally benefited from a positive trend in industrial metals and a strong inflow from exchange-traded funds,” Gandhi added.

The white metal had closed at Rs 1,28,000 per kg as demand remained robust in physical and investment segments, as per the Association. Silver prices have been on a bull run this year, skyrocketing by Rs 42,300 or 47.16 per cent, from Rs 89,700 per kilogram on December 31, 2024.
In the international markets, spot gold increased by USD 12.69, or 0.35 per cent, to USD 3,646.69 per ounce.

“Gold stayed positive as Comex traded firm at USD 3,647, factoring in expectations of a Fed rate cut next week to support the US economy.

“Despite being in overbought territory, gold continues to enjoy a premium driven by tariff uncertainty and the de-dollarisation theme,” said Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst – Commodity and Currency, LKP Securities.

According to Praveen Singh, Head of Commodities and Currencies at Mirae Asset ShareKhan, gold is expected to trade with a positive bias, though healthy risk appetite is reducing safe-haven demand in the near term.Spot silver was quoting 1.82 per cent higher at USD 42.31 per ounce.

“Investors will keep a close watch on the Federal Reserve’s tone, upcoming labour market numbers, and the political backdrop in the US, all of which could shape the rate outlook.
“With sticky inflation, shifting expectations on rate cuts, and escalating geopolitical risks, gold remains firmly in the spotlight and traders are bracing for another volatile move higher,” Chintan Mehta, CEO, Abans Financial Services, said.

Greater Kashmir

Exhibition on new criminal laws enters day 2, witnesses overwhelming public response

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Lieutenant Governor inaugurates exhibition on 'New Criminal Laws' at Srinagar

Srinagar, Sep 12: The ongoing “New Criminal Laws Exhibition”, organized by the Economic Offences Wing (Crime Branch Kashmir) at JK Police Public School, Bemina, entered its second day with continued zeal and enthusiastic participation from the public.

The three-day exhibition, which was inaugurated by the Lieutenant Governor of J&K UT Manoj Sinha on 11th September, aims to raise public awareness and understanding of the newly introduced criminal laws which include Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023

Following an overwhelming response on Day 1 with over 4,000 students and civil society members attending, today on Day 2 saw an additional 1,500 visitors from various walks of life, including concerned citizens.

The exhibition continues to serve as an effective platform for engaging the public with vital legal reforms, promoting legal literacy, and fostering informed civic participation.

The closing ceremony of the event is scheduled for Saturday, 13th September 2025, and the general public is cordially invited to attend.

The Economic Offences Wing (Crime Branch Kashmir) expresses sincere appreciation to all participants and stakeholders for their continued support in making this initiative a success.

Greater Kashmir

Monsoon withdrawal likely to begin around September 15: IMD

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Monsoon withdrawal likely to begin around September 15: IMD

New Delhi, Sep 12: The southwest monsoon is likely to start withdrawing from northwest India around September 15, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday.

The primary rain-bearing system usually makes its onset over Kerala by June 1 and covers the entire country by July 8. It starts retreating from northwest India around September 17 and withdraws completely by October 15.

“Conditions are becoming favourable for the withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon from some parts of west Rajasthan around September 15,” the IMD said in a statement.

This year, the monsoon covered the entire country nine days before the usual date of July 8. This was the earliest the monsoon has covered the entire country since 2020 when it did so by June 26.

It had reached Kerala on May 24, its earliest onset over the Indian mainland since 2009, when it arrived on May 23.

The country has received 836.2 mm of rainfall in the monsoon season so far against a normal of 778.6 mm, a surplus of 7 per cent.

Northwest India has received 720.4 mm, 34 per cent more than the normal of 538.1 mm.

The unusually high rainfall coincided with a series of extreme weather events.

Punjab suffered its worst flooding in decades, with swollen rivers and breached canals inundating thousands of hectares of farmland and displacing lakhs of people.

In the Himalayan states, cloudbursts and flash floods triggered landslides and caused widespread damage. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand reported washed-out bridges and roads, while Jammu and Kashmir witnessed repeated cloudbursts and landslides.

The IMD attributed the surplus rain to active monsoon conditions supported by frequent western disturbances that enhanced rainfall over the region.

Central India has recorded 978.3 mm of rainfall so far, 11 per cent higher than the normal of 882 mm, while the southern peninsula has gauged 7 per cent more rainfall than the normal of 611 mm. East and northeast India has recorded 949.6 mm of rainfall, 20 per cent below the normal of 1192.6 mm.

In May, the IMD had forecast that India is likely to receive 106 per cent of the long-period average rainfall of 87 cm during the June-September monsoon season.

Rainfall between 96 and 104 per cent of this 50-year average is considered ‘normal’.

The monsoon is crucial for India’s agriculture sector, which supports the livelihood of around 42 per cent of the population and contributes 18.2 per cent to the GDP.

It also plays a key role in replenishing reservoirs essential for drinking water and power generation.

Greater Kashmir

Operation Sindoor served as a reality check on needs of N-warfare: Defence Secy

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Operation Sindoor served as a reality check on needs of N-warfare: Defence Secy

Pune, Sep 12: Stressing higher spending on research and development (R&D), Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Friday that Operation Sindoor served as a reality check for the armed forces by pointing out the areas where we can do better, where we need to adapt to the changing needs of nuclear warfare.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the Defence Tech 2025 Seminar – STRIDE (Synergy of Technology, Research, Industry &; Defence Ecosystem) at the RSAMI, Pune, Singh said that currently, just 0.66 per cent of the GDP is spent on R&D, and two-thirds of this is done through the public sector, like the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

“We cannot move ahead in the defence sector without R&D. We need to change the current situation as the private sector has negligible contribution in this field,” he said, adding that the government has decided to share 25 per cent of the Technology Development Fund (TDF) of the DRDO with the private sector and also created a Rs 1 lakh crore research fund under department of science and technology.

“In the past three years, nearly Rs 1,500 crore has been shared with start-ups and private sector firms under TDF,” he said.

Talking about indigenous efforts for defence equipment, he said, “At a broader level, as I mentioned, we have already decided that we will spend not less than 75 per cent of our defence spending domestically. Last year, we actually spent 81 per cent entirely within the country.”

He did not favour raising the country’s defence budget, saying, “Such a need may arise only when we manage to use the current budget optimally. There are no financial constraints, the finance department is willing to increase our capex by 10-15 per cent every year, and this will be sufficient to meet the requirements of the armed forces.”

Shedding light on fighter jet engines, he said the country is close to developing a collaboration with an international engine house, along with the DRDO.

“That’s a long-drawn process that will take as much as a decade to develop,” said Singh at the Defence Tech 2025 Seminar – STRIDE (Synergy of Technology, Research, Industry & Defence Ecosystem) today at the RSAMI, Pune.

He said efforts were also being made to reduce our dependence on foreign suppliers for marine engines as well.

The Southern Command of the Indian Army is organising the Defence Tech 2025 Seminar – STRIDE (Synergy of Technology, Research, Industry & Defence Ecosystem) today at the RSAMI, Pune.

The seminar, themed “Atmanirbharta through Partnership – Industry, Academia, Armed Forces,” brought together the nation’s leading stakeholders from academia, industry, research organisations, and the Armed Forces to foster collaboration, accelerate indigenous capability development, and promote adoption of disruptive technologies in defence.

The event was attended by Lt. Gen Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, AVSM, GOC-in-C, Southern Command, alongside senior Army leadership and distinguished representatives from the defence ecosystem.

The session, themed “Fast Tracking Development of Niche Tech for Indigenous Systems” saw discussions covering reverse engineering, industry-funded academic research, and DRDO’s role.

Deliberations on the growth of the Indian Defence Manufacturing Ecosystem saw the participants focus on contributions of private industry, PSUs, and academia.

The seminar marked a step towards building a robust, self-reliant defence industrial base while nurturing partnerships to meet the future challenges of national security.

Greater Kashmir

Around one lakh devotees throng Hazratbal on Friday for Eid-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW)

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Around one lakh devotees throng Hazratbal for on Friday following of Eid-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW)

Srinagar, Sep 12: Around one lakh devotees thronged the revered Dargah Hazratbal shrine on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar to offer congregational prayers and have a glimpse of the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) on the Friday following Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW).

The largest congregation was held at Hazratbal, where around one lakh devotees from across the Valley gathered in huge numbers to witness the display of the holy relic, Moi-e-Muqaddas, widely believed to be a hair strand of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), marking the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), was observed on Monday. Today, the faithful once again assembled to observe the traditional Friday following the occasion with great religious fervour and devotion.

Devotees with moist eyes, amid recitation of Quranic verses, prayed for themselves, their families, and for peace in the world.

Similar congregations were reported at shrines and mosques including Asar Sharif Shahr-e-Kalashpora, Asar Sharif Jenab Sahab Soura, Lal Bazar, Syed Yaqoob Sahab Sonwar, and Makhama Beerwah in Budgam.

Large gatherings were also witnessed in districts such as Shopian (Pinjoora), Anantnag (Khiram Sirhama and Seer Hamadan), Kulgam (Kaba Marg Qaimoh), Pulwama (Khanqahi Faiz Panah Tral), and Bandipora (Aham Sharief).

Religious clerics on the occasion highlighted the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) during Friday sermons.

The Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board had made elaborate arrangements to facilitate the devotees, while the Traffic Police had issued a route plan to ensure smooth movement of vehicles. (KNC)

Greater Kashmir

J&K to witness warm days, cool evenings till Sept 17

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J&K to witness warm days, cool evenings till Sept 17

Srinagar, Sep 13: The Meteorological Department has forecast pleasant weather conditions in Jammu and Kashmir over the next few days, with warm, sunny days and cool, clear evenings expected to continue till September 17.

Director of Meteorology, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, said the prevailing conditions are favourable for outdoor activities and travel.

“Jammu and Kashmir will experience warm, sunny days and clear, cool evenings through September 17, offering perfect weather for outdoor activities,” he told the news agency Kashmir News Trust.

He added that no major weather disturbances are expected during the forecast period, providing much-needed relief to peopleand visitors after recent spells of rainfall and flood scare. [KNT]

Greater Kashmir

Bus carrying Indians ‘attacked’ near Kathmandu amid Nepal unrest; several injured

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Bus carrying Indians 'attacked' near Kathmandu amid Nepal unrest; several injured

Maharajganj (UP), Sep 12: An Indian tourist bus returning from the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu was allegedly attacked by protesters amid the ongoing unrest in Nepal, leaving several passengers injured, the bus driver has claimed.

The alleged incident took place on September 9 near Sonauli on the India-Nepal border, when the agitators targeted the bus carrying 49 Indians. Stones were reportedly pelted, shattering windows and injuring passengers, including women and the aged, the driver claimed.

According to reports, the local authorities admitted the injured to a hospital in Kathmandu, while the remaining passengers were flown back to India on a special plane arranged by the Indian Embassy with the help of the Nepalese government.

Talking to reporters in Sonauli here, bus driver Ramu Nishad said: “We were returning after having darshan (at the Pashupatinath temple), when suddenly a mob surrounded our bus and attacked without reason. There were women and elderly people among the passengers, but the protesters did not care.”

Youth-led Gen Z group, which spearheaded the anti-government protests in Nepal, had on Thursday said Parliament must be dissolved and the Constitution should be amended to reflect the will of the people, as the death toll from the demonstrations increased to 34.

The Gen Z protesters organised a press meet here to express their views, while some of their representatives were busy holding discussions with President Ramchandra Paudel and Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel at the Army Headquarters to find a solution to the current political crisis.

Greater Kashmir

Vaishno Devi Yatra to resume from Sunday: Shrine Board

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Vaishno Devi Yatra to Resume from Sunday: Shrine Board

Katra, Sep 12: Following a temporary suspension necessitated by inclement weather conditions and essential maintenance of the track leading to the Holy Shrine, the Yatra to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shall resume from September 14 (Sunday), subject to favourable weather conditions.

Shrine board in a statement issued here to news agency JKNS reads, Pilgrims are advised to carry valid identification, follow designated pathways and cooperate with on-ground staff. For live updates, booking services and helpline support, devotees can visit the Shrine Board’s official website “www.maavaishnodevi.org”, it reads.

The Shrine Board expresses its gratitude to all devotees for their patience and understanding during the temporary suspension, statement reads.

The resumption of the Yatra marks a reaffirmation of our collective faith and resilience and the Board remains committed to upholding the sanctity, safety and dignity of this revered pilgrimage, it reads.

Greater Kashmir

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