IBTimes

PM Modi met Presidents of Tajikistan and Laos in Bishkek, discussing strengthened bilateral ties and regional security at the SCO Summit.

EAM S. Jaishankar met Foreign Ministers of China, Russia, Iran, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan during the SCO Summit in Bishkek to boost bilateral ties.

The Congress high command has asserted its authority over the J&K unit's decision on joining the Omar Abdullah-led government, indicating that the final call rests with the AICC.

Singer Badshah and Isha Rikhi confirmed their separation through a joint statement on social media on Monday night. The announcement comes after weeks of speculation and months after the couple secretly got married in March.

Meta has removed scam advertisements from Facebook and Instagram that promoted fake adult apps after India raised concerns over their potential to steal sensitive user data, OTPs and bank PINs. The incident highlights growing cyber-fraud risks linked to malicious apps and deceptive social media advertisements.

Krishna Janmashtami 2026 will be observed on September 4, while the midnight birth celebration will take place around the transition from September 4 to September 5. Devotees in Vrindavan, Mathura and Mumbai will observe the festival with fasting, midnight puja, abhishek, bhog, aarti and Krishna Janmotsav celebrations.

The Sensex opened at 77,130.73, down 133.78 points or 0.17 per cent, while the Nifty declined 58.10 points or 0.24 per cent to 24,117.55.

Authorities have buried unidentified victims after collecting DNA samples, while rescue teams continue searching for people trapped at hydropower projects. So far, 10,451 people have been rescued, with more than 20,000 security personnel deployed for search, rescue and relief operations.

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Rescue operations are continuing amid difficult weather and terrain, while authorities remain alert to further flooding and landslides. The disaster has also affected foreign nationals, with India among the countries reporting missing citizens.

Trump said the opping out process would begin soon and described the oil as a gift to Americans. However, questions remain over how quickly Venezuela can increase production, given its ageing infrastructure and other challenges. A

Citizens, environmental groups and walkers have been staging protests at Lalbagh against the proposed tunnel road and a recent amendment allowing up to 5% of park land to be alienated for specified infrastructure projects.

More than 2.64 lakh aspirants appeared for the NEET-PG examination across India, while a re-examination was announced for candidates at two centres in Jaipur after a power failure disrupted the test. The re-exam aims to ensure that affected candidates are not disadvantaged.

HDFC Bank CEO and MD Sashidhar Jagdishan will retire on October 26, 2026, after deciding not to seek reappointment, the bank said. Jagdishan informed the board on August 29, which acknowledged his leadership and role in the bank's growth, including the HDFC merger.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned settler violence in the West Bank, describing attacks in Qusra and Jalud as criminal and calling for those responsible to be arrested. The statement followed reports of Palestinians being injured in attacks by Israeli settlers, including assaults on a Palestinian family and foreign journalists

Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje said a new aerospace and materials testing facility in Bengaluru will help Indian industries reduce their dependence on private agencies and foreign laboratories for testing critical materials.

While some leaders criticised the comments and stressed the painful history of Kashmiri Pandit displacement, others said the remarks should be viewed in the context of comedy and entertainment

The producers said the minister assured them that their concerns would be brought to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and that tripartite talks involving producers, distributors and theatre owners would be facilitated to find a permanent solution.

CNG now costs Rs 86.98 per kg in Delhi, Rs 95.59 in Noida and Ghaziabad, Rs 95.47 in Meerut and Rs 92.01 in Gurugram. This is IGL's fifth CNG price hike this year and the first since May.

While the wholesale price of tabela buffalo milk will rise from 93 to 102 per litre, consumers buying directly from local farms could end up paying around 110 per litre. Packaged milk brands such as Gokul have separate pricing, with the cooperative having recently raised its buffalo milk price to 78 per litre in Mumbai and Pune

The department urged eligible taxpayers to complete their returns through the e-filing portal before the deadline. More than 6.5 crore ITRs had been filed for AY 2026-27 as of August 20, including over 2 crore ITR-3 and ITR-4 returns.

Congress has once again refused to join Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's government in Jammu and Kashmir, maintaining that it will not accept any cabinet berth until statehood and the constitutional rights of the people are restored. JKPCC chief Tariq Hamid Karra said the party would continue supporting the National Conference government against any attempt by the BJP to destabilise it.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the J&K Police Crime Branch has arrested Junaid-ul-Islam from Bengaluru in connection with an alleged Rs 2-crore investment fraud case. The accused allegedly collected money from several people in Kashmir by promising monthly returns of 10 per cent while claiming an association with an e-commerce company.

The JERC's decision to raise electricity tariffs in Jammu and Kashmir by an average 6.83 per cent from September 1 has triggered a political storm, with opposition parties accusing the National Conference government of betraying its promise of 200 units of free electricity. BJP, Apni Party, Peoples Conference and PDP leaders have criticised the hike, while trade bodies have warned that it could add to the financial burden on consumers and further strain the region's economy.

Punjab Police has busted an alleged arms-smuggling module in Amritsar, arresting two suspects and recovering 10 sophisticated pistols, magazines and live ammunition. The action comes amid an NIA probe into suspected Pakistani and Australian links to a June drone-based arms drop near the Punjab border in June this year.

The NIA on Saturday conducted simultaneous searches at five locations in Kupwara and Anantnag districts of J&K as part of an ongoing probe into a suspected Over Ground Worker (OGW) network and possible links between drug trafficking and terror financing. The searches led to the seizure of electronic devices, including a mobile phone, as investigators examined suspected links to the wider terror-support network.

More than 5.35 lakh children were reported missing across India between 2021 and 2024, of whom 3.46 lakh were traced while nearly 1.89 lakh remained untraced, according to NCRB data tabled by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in the Rajya Sabha.

Government data tabled in the Rajya Sabha reveals that the number of people treated for drug addiction in Jammu and Kashmir surged nearly ninefold in five years from 5,382 in 2021-22 to 46,491 in 2025-26 with Jammu, Srinagar, Bandipore and Kulgam emerging as the worst-hit districts.

Army assault dog Tyson, a German Shepherd attached to 2 Para Special Forces, has been honoured with a Mention-in-Dispatches for displaying exceptional courage during an anti-terror operation in Kishtwar, where he was injured while helping security forces locate terrorists.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have booked BJP's Pulwama district president Showkat Gayoor in an alleged extortion and criminal intimidation case following a complaint by a contractor. The BJP has suspended Gayoor from all organisational posts and responsibilities. The case comes amid renewed efforts by the party to expand its political footprint in the Kashmir Valley and recalls an earlier case involving the BJP's former Bandipora district president.

The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of Jammu and Kashmir Police raided nine locations across the Union Territory in connection with the 1990 kidnapping and murder of Kashmiri Pandit poet and social activist Sarvanand Kaul Premi and his son Virendra Kaul. The long-pending case, registered under FIR No. 45/1990, is being thoroughly investigated to uncover the conspiracy and bring closure to the decades-old tragedy.

A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has expressed concern over the growing drug menace in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly among youth, and called for a comprehensive strategy combining strict enforcement with prevention, early intervention, de-addiction, rehabilitation and social reintegration.

Security has been intensified across parts of Jammu and Kashmir following a purported threat letter issued by the United Liberation Council, a suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked shadow outfit, targeting Kashmiri Hindu employees. The communication allegedly names six employees and contains threats against government officials and police personnel. Security agencies are examining the threat, while Panun Kashmir has demanded a probe into the purported communication.

The annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra will remain suspended from August 9 on the Chandanwari and Baltal routes to facilitate track repairs and maintenance following recent rains. More than 4.8 lakh pilgrims have performed darshan at the Holy Cave so far. The traditional Chhari Mubarak procession will proceed through the Pahalgam route and mark the formal culmination of the 2026 pilgrimage on August 28.

A high-level committee headed by retired Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar will visit J&K from August 10 to 12 to conduct a ground-level assessment of demographic changes, cross-border movement, alleged infiltration, identification of foreign nationals, document verification and unusual settlement patterns. The panel is expected to visit sensitive areas along the IB and LoC, interact with officials and residents, and examine alleged movement from border districts to the interior and Kashmir Val

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has reiterated that normal relations with Pakistan can move forward only in an environment free from terrorism, hostility and violence. In the Lok Sabha, he outlined India's diplomatic and strategic measures following the Pulwama and Pahalgam terror attacks. Separately, MoS External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said India is pursuing permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council through bilateral and multilateral engagements.

Over Rs 62,683 crore remains unclaimed in Public Sector Banks across India as of June 30, 2026, according to the Union Government. To help depositors, nominees and legal heirs recover their money, the Centre and the RBI have introduced a series of measures, including simplified claim procedures, special outreach drives, the UDGAM portal, and the nationwide Your Money, Your Right campaign.

The J&K Police on Tuesday dismissed a selection grade constable from service for his alleged involvement in a narcotics smuggling case in the Kathua district. The latest dismissal comes amid an intensified crackdown in which more than a dozen police personnel have been removed from service over the past two years for alleged links to drug trafficking and narco-terror networks.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced the launch of the first-ever Rehabilitation and Socio-Economic Reintegration Scheme for Drug Abuse Victims, 2026. The pilot project will begin in the two worst-affected districts of Jammu and Kashmir, focusing on treatment, counselling, skill development, employment, and long-term reintegration of drug abuse victims.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh reviewed the implementation roadmap of the Ujh Multipurpose Project in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it will generate up to 212 MW of electricity, irrigate nearly 90,000 hectares across J&K and Punjab, supply drinking water to Kathua, and strengthen water security, agriculture and border management.

The Crime Branch's Economic Offences Wing has chargesheeted a former ICICI Prudential Life Insurance employee for allegedly siphoning off over 10.75 lakh by fraudulently surrendering an insurance policy using forged documents and a fake SBI account. The investigation found evidence of forgery, cheating and attempted fraud involving multiple insurance policies, with the case now before a Jammu court.

Thousands of residents reportedly boycotted the first phase of PoJK Assembly elections as JAAC-led protests intensified, with demonstrators calling the polls a sham and demanding political rights.

The Union Government informed the Rajya Sabha that it has launched the National Mental Health Survey-2 to assess mental health disorders, including those linked to prolonged conflict, natural disasters and substance abuse in Jammu and Kashmir. It said the Union Territory has around 120 psychiatrists, 40 clinical psychologists, 21 addiction treatment facilities and expanded Tele-MANAS services as part of efforts to strengthen mental healthcare across all districts.

The Centre informed the Rajya Sabha that 35 workers lost their lives and three others suffered serious injuries at NHPC and CVPPL hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district over the past five years. It also stated that compensation has been paid in most cases, safety audits are being conducted regularly, and there is no evidence that project-related blasting or tunnelling has caused damage to nearby houses or structures.

Mehbooba Mufti's remarks at Jantar Mantar on Kashmir protests have triggered a political storm, with the NC, Apni Party and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah demanding a public apology.

The Jammu and Kashmir Sarnarthi Action Committee (JKSAC) has demanded a high-level probe into the alleged misappropriation of lakhs of kanals of evacuee land meant for the rehabilitation of families displaced from PoJK. The demand comes after the ACB unearthed a major Custodian land scam and registered multiple FIRs against revenue officials and beneficiaries.

FASTag-based toll collection on National Highways reached a record 70,278.18 crore in 2025-26, marking a steady rise over the past three years, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed the Rajya Sabha. The Centre said it has reviewed the toll pricing mechanism to reduce the burden on commuters through measures such as an annual pass, rationalised toll charges and lower penalties for UPI payments.

The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway Corridor has come under the spotlight after official data tabled in the Rajya Sabha revealed that 58 of J&K's 73 identified black corridors are located in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, through which the mega highway project passes.

Jammu and Kashmir Police has executed a court proclamation against Pakistan-based designated terrorist Mohammad Qasim alias Sulliman, directing him to appear before a designated court in Jammu by August 21. Qasim, who carries a Rs 10 lakh reward, is accused of involvement in the Katra and Narwal blasts and of operating a terror network in Rajouri and Poonch.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) would herald a new era in the Union Territory's partnership with the film industry and help restore Kashmir's historic status as a preferred filmmaking destination. Speaking at the curtain-raiser event, he outlined the government's vision to create a filmmaker-friendly ecosystem, promote local talent, and position IFFJK as a globally recognised annual film festival.