Pattali Makkal Katchi president Anbumani Ramadoss has strongly opposed the increasing trend of PPPs and privatisation in Tamil Nadu, citing concerns over job losses and the erosion of social justice principles.

The Union Government informed Parliament that Jammu and Kashmir provides an additional monthly top-up of Rs 600 to Anganwadi Workers and Rs 300 to Anganwadi Helpers. The Central honorarium was last enhanced in October 2018.

The Union government has approved seven new government medical colleges for Jammu and Kashmir as part of a national initiative to boost medical education and healthcare infrastructure in underserved areas. The colleges will be established in various districts across the region.

Jammu and Kashmir recorded Rs 69.37 crore in sales under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana during 2025-26. The Union Government reiterated its commitment to stringent quality checks for generic medicines distributed through Jan Aushadhi Kendras.

A Congress MP has approached the Supreme Court alleging that Form-7 has been misused in Uttar Pradesh to facilitate targeted and fraudulent deletions of eligible voters, particularly from minority and marginalized communities. The apex court is now considering the plea.

Houthi rebels launched attacks on military camps in Yemen's Marib and Hadramout provinces, killing at least 30 government troops and wounding over 50, escalating fears of a renewed civil war. The strikes mark a significant breach of the de facto truce in place since 2022.

The Israeli military announced Saturday it killed several Hezbollah members during an operation in southern Lebanon following an overnight clash. The incident occurs amidst ongoing border tensions and a fragile ceasefire.

U.S. stocks reached record highs on August 4, 2026, propelled by hopes of a U.S.-Iran diplomatic deal and a notable decline in oil prices. Strong corporate earnings, particularly in the AI sector, also contributed to the market's upward trajectory.

President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of planned strikes against Iran, citing progress in establishing the "perimeters of a deal" following requests from Tehran and other regional nations. The decision averts immediate military escalation amidst heightened tensions.

Global oil prices surged as U.S.-Iran tensions escalated following joint strikes in Iraq and an intercepted Iranian missile attack. Retaliation threats and a drop in U.S. crude inventories fueled the price hike.

Pattali Makkal Katchi president Anbumani Ramadoss has strongly opposed the increasing trend of PPPs and privatisation in Tamil Nadu, citing concerns over job losses and the erosion of social justice principles.

A Congress MP has approached the Supreme Court alleging that Form-7 has been misused in Uttar Pradesh to facilitate targeted and fraudulent deletions of eligible voters, particularly from minority and marginalized communities. The apex court is now considering the plea.

A transgender volunteer has filed a police complaint against free food distributor Mohammad Junaid alleging inappropriate conduct towards women at the Jantar Mantar protest site. The volunteer claims Junaid's behaviour created an unsafe environment.

Over 79,000 students have received tentative seat allotments in Tamil Nadu's TNEA 2026 engineering admissions after the second round of counselling. Candidates must confirm their seats by August 8 and report to colleges between August 9 and 13.

The Tamil Nadu government has defended its move to provide reservation benefits to Muslim converts from backward classes before the Supreme Court. The State argues that conversion should not disqualify individuals from existing benefits.

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Japan's Kyushu island, triggering a tsunami advisory for coastal areas and causing power outages and transport disruptions. Authorities reported injuries and structural damage.

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake has shaken southern Japan, leading to a tsunami advisory for the Kumamoto region. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents to evacuate coastal areas and assured that a government task force is assessing the situation.

An explosion and fire at a Hanwha Aerospace facility in Daejeon, South Korea, has killed five people and injured two. The incident occurred at a plant that develops rocket propellants and weapons systems, and investigations into the cause are ongoing.

A truck carrying Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan overturned in eastern Afghanistan, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 people and injuring 35 others, officials reported on Saturday.

Nepal's President Ramchandra Paudel has highlighted climate change and pollution as significant threats to the Himalayan environment, calling for sustainable tourism and responsible mountaineering. The 'Everest Summiteers Summit' in Kathmandu drew global attention to these critical issues.

A premature giraffe calf has survived a rare emergency C-section at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Kansas after its mother fell critically ill. The groundbreaking procedure highlights advanced veterinary care in species conservation.

Commercial shipping continues through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden despite Houthi threats and attacks. Naval forces are engaged in ensuring maritime security amidst concerns over global trade routes.

Houthi militants have threatened to block the Red Sea, a critical oil export route for Saudi Arabia, escalating regional tensions and posing a risk to global energy supplies.

Seven American aid workers, involved in the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo, are undergoing a 21-day quarantine in Kenya following new U.S. travel restrictions. The isolation facility has faced significant opposition in Kenya.

The remote Amazonian city of Parintins erupts annually into a fervent rivalry between two bull mascots, Garantido (red) and Caprichoso (blue), during its famed three-day folklore festival. This spectacular event, based on the Boi-Bumbá legend, sees the two teams compete with elaborate performances in the Bumbódromo arena, deeply dividing the city and captivating thousands.

As calls for a separate Jammu state gain renewed political attention, the debate raises fundamental questions about governance, regional identity, and internal inequalities. While proponents see statehood as a solution to decades of perceived neglect, this article argues that redrawing boundaries may deepen divisions within Jammu itself—particularly between the plains and the hill districts of Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal—without addressing the underlying issues of development, representation, and effective governance.

A devastating cloudburst once again struck Thathri, leaving behind a trail of destruction and raising uncomfortable questions about whether the disaster was entirely natural. While cloudbursts are inevitable in the Himalayas, years of unchecked dumping of construction debris into natural drainage channels may have intensified their impact. This article examines the science behind cloudbursts, the recurring devastation in Thathri, and why accountability, scientific planning, and environmental responsibility are essential to prevent future tragedies.

Kashmiri has survived centuries of conflict, displacement and political upheaval, but in Jammu and Kashmir's Chenab Valley, its greatest threat may now lie inside the home. This article explores how families are gradually replacing Kashmiri with Urdu and English, disconnecting younger generations from a rich literary heritage shaped by poets such as Rasa Javidani, Bashir Bhaderwahi and Janbaaz Kishtwari. It examines the cultural, social and policy failures driving the language's decline, while questioning whether one of the region's oldest linguistic traditions can still be preserved before it falls silent.

Sanitation workers are among the most essential yet least recognised contributors to public health. Their daily labour keeps streets clean, drains functional, and communities protected from disease, yet they often work in hazardous conditions with inadequate safety measures, delayed wages, and little public appreciation. As recurring sanitation workers’ strikes across Jammu and Kashmir have shown, a clean environment cannot be sustained by government agencies alone; it requires respect for sanitation workers, responsible waste disposal by citizens, and a shared commitment to the constitutional duty of protecting public health and the environment.

For decades, the developmental discourse of Jammu and Kashmir has remained trapped in a binary narrative centred on Srinagar and Jammu, overlooking the vast mountainous regions of the Chenab Valley, Pir Panjal, and peripheral hill districts. Despite contributing significantly through hydropower, agriculture, tourism potential, and natural resources, these regions continue to face chronic deficits in healthcare, education, infrastructure, and economic investment. This article examines the structural neglect of Jammu and Kashmir's peripheral highlands, explores the paradox of resource extraction without proportional local development, and argues for targeted policy interventions to ensure equitable growth, regional empowerment, and inclusive governance.

President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of planned strikes against Iran, citing progress in establishing the "perimeters of a deal" following requests from Tehran and other regional nations. The decision averts immediate military escalation amidst heightened tensions.

The United States faces a complex challenge in its dealings with Iran, balancing significant military power against the risks of a potential conflict. Heightened tensions, sanctions, and regional posturing define the current standoff.

One person was killed and at least 17 injured when a vehicle crashed into crowds at Berlin's Pride parade. Police are searching for a suspect with ties to Islamist circles, and the event has been canceled.

Commercial shipping continues through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden despite Houthi threats and attacks. Naval forces are engaged in ensuring maritime security amidst concerns over global trade routes.

Houthi militants have threatened to block the Red Sea, a critical oil export route for Saudi Arabia, escalating regional tensions and posing a risk to global energy supplies.

Renowned scholar of Islam, John L. Esposito, who dedicated his career to challenging misconceptions and fostering interfaith dialogue, has died at 86. He was a professor at Georgetown University and founder of its Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding.

La Guaira, Venezuela, is struggling to recover after devastating earthquakes on June 24, 2026, which caused widespread destruction and significant loss of life. The city's infrastructure has been severely damaged, with 80% of buildings collapsing, and ongoing concerns about public health and the environment loom large.

Mexican authorities are investigating allegations that up to 75,000 students may have cheated on the recent entrance examination for the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). The scandal has raised concerns about the integrity of the university's admissions process.

Authorities in Arizona have released redacted ransom notes in the ongoing investigation into the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of "Today" show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. The Pima County Sheriff's Department is seeking public assistance to identify the writer of the notes.

Gold prices in India fell on Friday to Rs 12,501.02 per gram, down from Rs 12,578.45 the previous day. The decline reflects global market fluctuations and the rupee-dollar exchange rate.

Kashmiri has survived centuries of conflict, displacement and political upheaval, but in Jammu and Kashmir's Chenab Valley, its greatest threat may now lie inside the home. This article explores how families are gradually replacing Kashmiri with Urdu and English, disconnecting younger generations from a rich literary heritage shaped by poets such as Rasa Javidani, Bashir Bhaderwahi and Janbaaz Kishtwari. It examines the cultural, social and policy failures driving the language's decline, while questioning whether one of the region's oldest linguistic traditions can still be preserved before it falls silent.

Prominent poet Taskeen Badanvi, also known as Jalal Ud Din, breathed his last in the early hours of April 28, 2026. Hailing from Badanoo village in Thathri tehsil of Doda district, he was known for his valuable contributions to Kashmiri, Bhadarwahi, and Urdu poetry.

The article examines the Pahari-speaking communities of Chenab Valley through the Lokur Committee’s criteria for Scheduled Tribe recognition, highlighting geographical isolation, distinct cultural identity, and persistent socio-economic disadvantages shaped by mountainous terrain. It argues that a contemporary interpretation of these indicators presents a strong, evidence-based case for careful and consistent policy consideration within India’s broader commitment to inclusive development and social justice.

A 15-year-old student from Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district...

​Kashmiri language textbooks were reportedly unavailable in government schools...