TOP STORY OF THE DAY |
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| Will coalition partners hold joint meeting ahead of budget session? | | NC, Cong call separate meetings of legislators | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 28: Although the ruling National Conference (NC) has scheduled a meeting of its legislators on March 2 to finalize strategies for the upcoming budget session, uncertainty continues over the traditional joint meeting of all coalition partners.
As per established practice, legislators of all coalition parties — National Conference, Congress, CPI(M), and Aam Aadmi Party — would usually convene together a day before the start of every Assembly session. However, for the forthcoming budget session, no such joint meeting has been confirmed so far.
The coalition government, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, currently enjoys the support of six Congress MLAs, five Independents, and one legislator each from the CPI(M) and Aam Aadmi Party.
Highly placed sources revealed that the Congress has also called its own legislature party meeting on March 2, the same day the NC will hold its internal discussions.
As previously reported, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will chair the National Conference Legislature Party Meeting in Jammu on March 2, ahead of the ... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| Fresh snowfall revives hopes for Khelo India Winter Games 2025 | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 28: The ending of a prolonged dry spell with heavy downpours in plains and snowfall in hilly areas revived the hope of beginning the 5th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games, which were already postponed due to insufficient snow in the picturesque Gulmarg resort of Kashmir.
Like other parts of the country, Gulmarg also received heavy snowfall during the last 24 hours.
On February 23, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hoped that the forecasted snowfall in the ... | |
| | | | Court rejects bail of Bank Manager | | Multi-crore loan scam | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 28: Special Judge Anticorruption Jammu Haq Nawaz Zargar rejected the bail application of Jatinder Singh Branch Manager who was arrested by the Crime Branch in multicrore loan scam.
Special Judge Haq Nawaz Zargar after hearing APP Mohd Amir–al-Mansoor for the Crime Branch, observed that if the applicant is released on bail now, it is likely to prejudice the investigation which is being carried out. It is not possible for the court to monitor the sources of comm... | |
| | | | Kashmir: Ongoing wet spell brings rainfall deficit down to 42% | | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Feb 28: The ongoing wet spell in the Kashmir Valley due to a “mega” western disturbance has brought a major relief for Jammu and Kashmir residents, bringing down the rainfall deficit from 80 per cent to 42 per cent, officials said on Friday.
According to the local weather office, the Valley witnessed above-normal precipitation between February 26 and 28.
“While the normal precipitation for the period would have been 15.5 mm, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed 78.4 mm precipitation which is 407 per cent above the normal,” a weather department official said.
“The current wet spell has brought the deficit down from 80 per cent to nearly 42 per cent,” he said.
U... | |
| | | | Doda, Rajouri districts receive heavy snowfall | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 28: The districts of Doda and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir received much-anticipated snowfall after a dry spell, leading to a significant drop in temperature and bringing relief to farmers and other citizens After a prolonged dry spell, the snowfall transformed the Gandoh Bhalessa Mountain in Doda into a mesmerising winter wonderland as a fresh spell of snow encased the region into white.
Moreover, elevated areas of the Pir Panjal mountain range also received ... | |
| | | | Srinagar-Jammu highway, other roads closed | | |  Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 28: Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and other major roads in Kashmir continued to remain closed for the second straight day on Friday, while snowfall led to the cancellation of two morning flights at Srinagar International Airport.
Two flights including 6E 2641 from Delhi and 6E 262 from Srinagar were cancelled this morning due to inclement weather conditions.
Meanwhile, all highways and major roads remained closed for vehicular movement for the second st... | |
| | | | Properties of 5 PoJK-based Hizbul terrorists seized in Ramban | | |  Early Times Report
Banihal/Jammu, Feb 28: Banihal/Jammu, Feb 28: Jammu and Kashmir Police has seized immovable properties of five operatives of the proscribed terrorist group Hizbul Mujahideen in the Gool area of Ramban district, an official spokesperson said on Friday
The five terrorists — Saraj Din (48) of Sangaldan, Reyaz Ahmed (45) of Dalwah, Farooq Ahmed (46) of Banj Bhimdassa, and Mohd Ashraf (50) and Mushtaq Ahmed (47) of Moila — have crossed over to Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kash... | |
| | | | Deport Rohingya, Bangladeshi intruders: Amit Shah to security agencies | | |  New Delhi, Feb 28:
Agencies
Describing illegal entry of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas into the country as an issue of national security, Union Home Minister, Amit Shah on Friday directed the security agencies to identify the intruders and deport them. Chairing a meeting to review the national capital’s law-and-order situation, Shah said that illegal entry of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas needs to be dealt with strictly. “Stern action should be taken against the entire network that helps Banglad... | |
| | | | 14 candidates shortlisted | | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 28: Fourteen candidates shortlisted for the posts of Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE), and Director, J&K State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), will appear for an interaction before the Search Committee on March 5.
As per an order, the interaction will take place at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu, where the candidates will present their credentials before the committee. ... | |
| | | | Fire guts 6 structures | | |  Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 28: In a devastating fire incident that broke out at Hajin area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district, four shopping complexes and two residential houses were gutted in blaze on Thursday night, officials said.
Fire and Emergency Service officials said that fire broke around 10.35 pm last night in a shopping complex in the Hajin area and engulfed other nearby complexes causing extensive damage to four shopping complexes.
The officials said the four shopping ... | |
| | | | 57 labourers trapped | | |  Dehradun, Feb 28:
Agencies
Forty-one BRO workers were trapped under an avalanche near the high altitude border village of Mana in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday, officials said. The snowslide had initially buried 57 men but 16 were rescued.
The avalanche buried a camp of the Border Roads Organisation between Mana and Badrinath, Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari said.
Mana, three kilometres from Badrinath, is the last village on the India-Tibet border at a height of 3,2... | |
| | | | EPFO retains 8.25% interest rate | | | | NEW DELHI, Feb 28:
Agencies
Retirement fund body EPFO on Friday retained an interest rate of 8.25 per cent on employees’ provident fund (EPF) deposits for 2024-25, sources said.
In February 2024, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) had increased the interest rate on EPF marginally to 8.25 per cent for 2023-24, from 8.15 per cent in 2022-23.
In March 2022, EPFO had lowered the interest on EPF for 2021-22 to an over four-decade low of 8.1 per cent for its over seven crore subscribers, from 8.5 per cent in 2020-21.
The 8.10 per cent rate of interest on EPF for 2020-21 was the lowest since 1977-78, when the EPF interest rate stood at 8 per cent.
“The EPFO’s apex decision ... | |
| | | | Schools to reopen on Mar 7 | | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 28: Jammu and Kashmir government has extended winter vacation in all the schools across the Union territory due to wet weather conditions. In response to the prevailing weather conditions in valley, schools upto higher secondary level will now reopen on 7th March 2025, J&K Education Minister Sakina Itoo posted on X.
In an order , the Education department said the winter vacations for all Government and Private Schools upto higher secondary level of Kashmir Division and winter zone(s) of Jammu Division are hereby extended upto March 6.
“The schools shall now reopen on March 7th, 2025 instead of March 1, 2025.” the order read.
The decision to extend the ... | |
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