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Sonia Gandhi ‘absolutely stable’, responding well to treatment, says Gangaram Hospital

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Sonia Gandhi ‘absolutely stable’, responding well to treatment, says Gangaram Hospital

New Delhi, Jan 6: Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s condition is “absolutely stable”, and she is responding well to treatment, the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said in a medical update on Tuesday.

According to the statement released by the hospital, Sonia Gandhi was admitted around 10 p.m. on Monday after she experienced respiratory discomfort. Following a medical evaluation, doctors found that her bronchial asthma had been mildly exacerbated, largely due to the combined effects of cold weather and prevailing air pollution in the national capital.

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Chairman, Dr Ajay Swaroop, said that as a precautionary measure, she was admitted for observation and treatment.

“At present, her condition is absolutely stable. She is responding well to treatment and is being managed with antibiotics and other supportive medications,” the statement said.

The hospital further noted that her health parameters are being closely monitored by the medical team.

“A decision regarding her discharge will be taken by the treating physicians based on her clinical progress and is likely within the next day or two,” the statement said.

The update from the hospital is expected to allay concerns among party leaders and supporters, following reports of her hospitalisation late Monday night.

Sonia Gandhi turned 79 last December.

She attended the 140th Foundation Day of the Congress party on December 28, where a flag-hoisting ceremony took place at Indira Bhavan in New Delhi.

A day before, on December 27, Sonia Gandhi attended the Congress Working Committee’s meeting at Indira Bhavan in New Delhi.

The CWC unanimously pledged to fight the “conspiracy to turn rights into charity,” raising slogans of “Jai Samvidhan – Jai Hind.”

She had also issued a statement in December on the government passing the VB-G RAM G bill in parliament, launching a sharp attack on the Central government, accusing it of dismantling the rights-based legislative framework through its proposed changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and other key laws.

Greater Kashmir

CM Omar Abdullah unveils 2026 tourism, JKCCC calendars; launches Tourism Kashmir Website, skiing courses

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CM Omar Abdullah unveils 2026 tourism, JKCCC calendars; launches Tourism Kashmir Website, skiing courses

Jammu, Jan 06: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today unveiled the 2026 calendars of the Tourism Department and the Jammu & Kashmir Cable Car Corporation at the Civil Secretariat.

The calendars highlight prominent tourist destinations and tourism-related infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir. Congratulating the concerned departments, the Chief Minister observed that such initiatives would contribute significantly to the promotion and wider publicity of Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism potential.

“These calendars are not merely annual publications; they are visual narratives of Jammu and Kashmir’s natural beauty and evolving tourism infrastructure,” he observed.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also launched the official website of the Directorate of Tourism, Kashmir. The portal has been designed to publicise tourism events and destinations, maintain digital archives, and provide comprehensive information related to tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. The website also integrates useful links to Jammu Tourism, JKTDC, J&K Cable Car Corporation and other allied organisations, offering all relevant information on a single platform.

The Chief Minister said a modern, dynamic digital presence is crucial for effective outreach. “The new Tourism Kashmir website would be informative and will serve as a comprehensive, single-window platform for tourists and stakeholders alike,” he said.

Also, the Chief Minister inaugurated the Integrated Skiing Course at Gulmarg and Sonamarg, comprising two batches of 32 and 25 trainees respectively. He was informed that the basic skiing course has a duration of 14 days and is aimed for trainees in the age group of 12 to 18 years.

Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary Tourism Ashish Chandra Verma, Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajad, who is also MD JKCCC, Director Tourism Jammu Dr Vikas Gupta, Managing Director J&K Tourism Development Corporation Shreya Singhal, and other senior officers were present on the occasion.

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Civil Secretariat Jammu sealed following protest call over SMVDIME admissions

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Civil Secretariat Jammu sealed following protest call over SMVDIME admissions

Jammu, Jan 06: Police on Tuesday sealed the Civil Secretariat in Jammu to foil any attempt of protest by the recently formed Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti, officials said.

The protest call was linked to MBBS admissions at the SMVD Institute of Medical Excellence, with the Sangharsh Samiti alleging religious bias by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board in the admission of non-Hindu students. The group has demanded rescission of the admission process or closure of the medical college, while also threatening escalation through signature campaigns and boycotts.

Officials said hundreds of police personnel, led by senior officers, were deployed outside the Civil Secretariat to prevent any law and order situation. A police official told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that no protesters would be allowed to come anywhere near the Secretariat premises.

Leaders of the Sangharsh Samiti have also alleged misuse of shrine funds and have sought intervention from BJP leaders and the Lt Governor. Right wing organizations have raised objections to the admission process, attempting to project it as a contentious issue.

However, the government has categorically stated that all admissions at the medical college have been carried out strictly on the basis of merit and not on the basis of religion. Officials reiterated that the selection process follows prescribed norms and regulations applicable to medical admissions.

Authorities said the situation remained under control, with security arrangements put in place as a precautionary measure to maintain public order in the high security zone. [KNT]

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Kulgam resident found dead at a hotel in Tangmarg, police launch probe

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Kulgam resident found dead at a hotel in Tangmarg, police launch probe

Baramulla, Jan 06: A dead body was found inside a hotel in Tangmarg area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district, on Tuesday.

An official said the deceased has been identified as Haziq a resident of Kulgam, who had been staying at the hotel since last night.

Upon receiving information, police from Police Station Tangmarg rushed to the spot and took cognizance of the matter, they said.

The body has been taken for medico-legal formalities, while police have initiated an investigation to ascertain the cause of death. (KNC)

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J&K U-16 cricket team clinches historic first BCCI title

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J&K U-16 cricket team clinches historic first BCCI title

Srinagar, Jan 06: Jammu and Kashmir created history on Tuesday as JKCA’s U-16 men’s team clinched the Vijay Merchant Trophy title, securing the JKCA’s first-ever BCCI tournament title win with a commanding innings and 182-run win over Mizoram in Surat.

Skipper Smagey Khajuria led from the front with a composed century, while Atharav Sharma remained unbeaten on 92 as J&K piled up 400 runs, taking a decisive 300-run first-innings lead.

The bowlers then completed the formalities, bundling Mizoram out for 118 in the second innings.
Left-arm spinner Sanil Singh and pacer Jaskaran Singh starred with the ball for J&K.

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Jammu–Srinagar highway is open for all vehicles from both sides

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Jammu–Srinagar highway is open for all vehicles from both sides

Srinagar, Jan 06: The Jammu–Srinagar National Highway has been opened for traffic from both sides, with authorities allowing the movement of both Light Motor Vehicles and Heavy Motor Vehicles on Tuesday.

Officials said vehicular traffic was thrown open for even Heavy Motor Vehicles after road conditions improved, enabling smooth passage along the vital NH44, which serves as the primary all-weather link between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country. Traffic is being allowed from both Jammu and Srinagar sides in a regulated manner to ensure safety.

Commuters were advised to follow lane discipline and adhere to traffic instructions while travelling on the highway, particularly at vulnerable stretches prone to weather related disruptions. Authorities said the situation is being closely monitored and traffic flow will be reviewed depending on prevailing conditions.

The reopening for HMV has brought relief to transporters, as the highway frequently faces interruptions during winter due to snowfall, rain and landslides. [KNT]

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Pahalgam cab driver returns bag with cash and valuables to lady tourist

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Pahalgam cab driver returns bag with cash and valuables to lady tourist

Srinagar, Jan 06: In yet another example of honesty and integrity that the people of Kashmir are known for, a cab driver in Pahalgam in South Kashmir set a remarkable example by returning a bag containing cash, an iPhone, and other valuables to a visiting tourist.

According to details available, the tourist had inadvertently left the bag inside the cab after completing the journey in Pahalgam. The bag reportedly contained a substantial amount of cash, an iPhone, and important personal belongings. Upon noticing the unattended bag, the cab driver made efforts to trace the owner instead of keeping the valuables.

After confirming the identity of the tourist, the driver returned the bag intact, drawing appreciation from the visitor and locals alike. The tourist expressed gratitude for the honesty shown, stating that such a gesture is rare and reflects the deep rooted values of trust and integrity prevalent among the inhabitants of Kashmir.

Incidents like these continue to reinforce the long standing reputation of Kashmir’s people for honesty and ethical conduct. Despite facing challenging circumstances over the years, such acts repeatedly highlight the strong moral fabric of society in the region and leave a lasting impression on visitors.

Locals said that such gestures are not isolated incidents and that similar examples of honesty are frequently witnessed across Kashmir, especially in interactions involving tourists. [KNT]

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Sub-zero temperatures grip Kashmir, Gulmarg coldest at minus 8.6°C

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Sub-zero temperatures grip Kashmir, Gulmarg coldest at minus 8.6°C

Srinagar, Jan 06: Cold conditions continued across Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, with most places in the Kashmir Valley recording sub-zero minimum temperatures, officials said.

Gulmarg, a popular tourist resort in north Kashmir, was the coldest place in the Valley, registering a minimum temperature of minus 8.6 degrees Celsius.

Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 6.8 degrees Celsius, while Shopian settled at minus 6.0 degrees Celsius.

Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.0 degrees Celsius, while the temperature at Srinagar Airport dropped to minus 4.8 degrees Celsius.

Other places in the Valley also witnessed freezing night temperatures, with Anantnag at minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, Pulwama at minus 5.4 degrees Celsius, Kupwara at minus 3.1 degrees Celsius, Baramulla at minus 4.0 degrees Celsius and Bandipora at minus 3.1 degrees Celsius.

Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.0 degrees Celsius, Awantipora minus 2.4 degrees Celsius and Budgam minus 3.9 degrees Celsius. Pampore registered a minimum of minus 3.0 degrees Celsius. Kulgam was comparatively warmer at minus 0.2 degrees Celsius.

Zethan Rafiabad recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius, according to weather data compiled by Kashmir Weather. Temperature data for Ganderbal and Sonamarg was not available.

In the Jammu region, temperatures remained above the freezing point at most places. Jammu city recorded a minimum temperature of 5.2 degrees Celsius, while Jammu Airport logged 7.6 degrees Celsius. Kathua was the warmest place in the region at 8.4 degrees Celsius.

Banihal recorded 1.5 degrees Celsius, Batote 1.7 degrees Celsius, Ramban 2.7 degrees Celsius and Doda 3.1 degrees Celsius. Rajouri recorded the freezing point at 0.0 degrees Celsius, while Bhaderwah was the coldest in the region at minus 2.2 degrees Celsius.

In Ladakh, Leh recorded a minimum temperature of minus 11.2 degrees Celsius, officials said.

The Meteorological Department has forecast continuation of cold conditions in the region, with chilly nights expected to persist over the next few days. (KNS).

Greater Kashmir

Russia once floated Venezuela-Ukraine swap: Report

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Russia once floated Venezuela-Ukraine swap: Report

Washington, Jan 06: Russia at one point signaled a willingness to allow the United States latitude in Venezuela in exchange for Washington easing its position on Ukraine, according to seven-year-old congressional testimony by Fiona Hill, a former senior National Security Council official, an account that has resurfaced amid renewed scrutiny of great-power bargaining.

The episode was recalled in New York Times report on Monday and traces back to testimony Hill delivered to Congress in 2019, when she served as the NSC’s senior director for Russian and European affairs during the first Trump administration.

In that testimony, Hill described what she called strong Russian signaling—much of it in public forums and media—suggesting a linkage between US policy in Venezuela and Russia’s interests in Ukraine.

“The Russians at this particular juncture were signaling very strongly that they wanted to somehow make some very strange swap arrangement between Venezuela and Ukraine,” Hill told lawmakers, referring to a period in early 2019 marked by heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas and Russia’s military support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Hill said the signals emerged as the United States pressed its case in Venezuela, invoking the Monroe Doctrine, while Moscow pointed to what it saw as its own “backyard” in Ukraine.

“You have your Monroe Doctrine. You want us out of your backyard. Well, you know, we have our own version of this. You’re in our backyard in Ukraine,” she told the hearing, summarizing the Russian position conveyed through informal channels and Russian press commentary.

According to Hill’s testimony, the idea of a trade-off was not conveyed through formal diplomatic proposals but surfaced through public statements, commentaries, and media articles. She said the Russians “laid it out in articles,” many of them in Russian, making the linkage apparent to US officials tracking Moscow’s messaging.

Hill told lawmakers that she later traveled to Moscow on an unclassified visit to meet Russian counterparts, including at a think tank, and that the discussions there reinforced the sense that Russian officials were interested in tying Venezuela and Ukraine together in their strategic calculus. “It was also apparent … that the Russian government was interested in having a discussion about Venezuela and Ukraine,” she said.

She emphasised that the matter had been discussed openly enough that questions were raised at a US State Department press briefing about whether she had gone to Russia “to make a trade between Venezuela and Ukraine,” underscoring that the idea was already circulating publicly.

The New York Times report noted that Moscow’s mixed reaction to recent US action in Venezuela has revived memories of that earlier episode, which unfolded years before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

At the time Hill testified, Russia had deployed personnel and equipment to Venezuela as Washington increased pressure on the Maduro government.

Hill in the testimony said she personally rejected the notion of such a swap during her interactions with Russian officials. She described the episode as part of a broader pattern in which Moscow sought to frame global politics in terms of reciprocal spheres of influence, contrasting that approach with US policy positions.

In her testimony, Hill made clear that her remarks were confined to unclassified information already in the public domain. “I have confined all my answers to the things that have either been in the public discussion,” she told lawmakers when asked about the nature of her disclosures.

Greater Kashmir

‘Power of law must prevail in Venezuela’, UN chief tells Security Council

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‘Power of law must prevail in Venezuela’, UN chief tells Security Council

New Delhi, Jan 06: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the recent escalation in Venezuela risks destabilising the wider region and undermining the foundations of international law, calling on all parties to respect the UN Charter and pursue a peaceful, democratic path forward.

Addressing an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council through Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, Guterres said the Council was meeting at a “grave time” following the United States’ military action in Venezuela on January 3.

He noted that US forces were active across Caracas and the northern states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, though the scale of casualties remains unclear.

President Donald Trump had announced what he described as a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela and its leader Nicolás Maduro, later stating that Washington would “run the country” until a transition could be arranged.

Venezuela’s government has denounced the operation as military aggression in both civilian and military areas and a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, Guterres said. He added that President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are currently being held in New York on serious criminal charges brought by US authorities.

“What is less certain is the immediate future of Venezuela,” the Secretary-General warned, expressing deep concern over the risk of intensified instability inside the country, its potential regional impact, and the precedent such actions could set for relations between states.

The crisis, he said, comes against the backdrop of long-standing international concern over Venezuela, which deepened after the disputed presidential election of July 2024. An expert panel appointed by the UN at the request of the Venezuelan government had identified serious electoral shortcomings, while the UN human rights office has documented grave violations.

Guterres also noted that interim President Delcy Rodríguez had declared a nationwide emergency on January 3, expanding security powers amid rising tensions that the Council has discussed repeatedly since August.

Reiterating his concern that international law had not been respected in the recent military action, the UN chief stressed that the Charter prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. “The maintenance of international peace and security depends on the continued commitment of all Member States to adhere to the Charter,” he said.

Venezuela, he added, has endured decades of political, social and economic turmoil, with democracy weakened and millions forced to flee. While the situation is critical, he said, it remains possible to avert a wider and more destructive conflict.

Guterres urged Venezuelan actors to engage in inclusive, democratic dialogue grounded in respect for human rights, the rule of law and the sovereign will of the people. He also called on neighbouring countries and the broader international community to act in solidarity and in line with international principles.

“International law provides tools to address issues such as illicit drug trafficking, disputes over resources and human rights concerns,” he said. “This is the route we need to take. The power of the law must prevail.”

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