Jammu, Jan 12 (PTI) Fifteen pilgrims were injured when a mini bus skidded off the the road and rolled down a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Thursday, officials said.
The accident took place when the pilgrims were en route to Katra from Shiv Khori.
The injured passengers have been hospitalised.
Locals blamed bad condition of the road for the accident.
Mini bus skids off road in J-K 15 injured
Cargo from Pakistan with radioactive Uranium seized at UK’s Heathrow airport; sparks dirty-bomb fears
A shipment containing several kilograms of uranium, which could potentially be used for making a dirty bomb was seized at UK’s Heathrow Airport in a cargo consignment originating in Pakistan, reported The Sun.
According to the British tabloid The Sun, the package containing Uranium originated in Pakistan before landing at Heathrow’s Terminal Four aboard an Oman Air passenger flight from Muscat. The package containing the radioactive material was detected at the UK Airport following a routine screening on December 29.
The Uranium package which was found in the Cargo section of Heathrow was addressed to an Iranian-linked firm in the UK, reported The Sun.
A major counter-terrorism probe has been launched.
Border Force agents isolated the consignment in a radioactive chamber and brought in counter-terrorism officers after discovering it was uranium.
“We can confirm officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command were contacted by Border Force colleagues at Heathrow after a very small amount of contaminated material was identified after routine screening within a package incoming to the UK on 29 December 2022,” Met Police told MailOnline, UK based media agency.
“I want to reassure the public that the amount of contaminated material was extremely small and has been assessed by experts as posing no threat to the public,” Commander Richard Smith said, according to Dailymail Online.
“Although our investigation remains ongoing, from our inquiries so far, it does not appear to be linked to any direct threat. However, we will continue to follow up on all available lines of enquiry to ensure this is definitely the case,” the commander said.
The discovery of the shipment has raised alarm over the possible use of Pakistan as a transit point for smuggling nuclear material.
Uranium is a naturally occurring element that can be used for nuclear-related purposes once it is refined or enriched through the use of centrifuges.
The incident has also led to concerns over the handling of nuclear material in Pakistan. Pakistan has had a tumultuous history with nuclear material, with several incidents of the illegal proliferation of nuclear technology and materials being reported in the past.
In 2004, the world was shocked to learn that the father of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb, Abdul Qadeer Khan, had been running a black market in nuclear technology for more than a decade, and had provided nuclear secrets to countries such as Iran, Libya, and North Korea.
Adversary choosing Peer Panchal, IB to push in infiltrators, air-drop weapons, ammo: Army Chief
New Delhi, Jan 12 : Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pandey Thursday there was a significant decline in infiltration level in J&K 2022 as 18 infiltrators were killed in 12 attempts from across the fence. He also said that army and BSF have procured drone jammers to foil the bids of “adversary” to air-droop weapons and drugs along the IB in Jammu region even though enemy are preferring
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), while addressing the annual day presser of army in Delhi, the army chief said the year 2022 saw a significant dip in infiltration level and figures. “The year 2022 saw only 12 attempts of infiltration in J&K in which 18 infiltrators were killed,” General Pandey said.
He said that the army’s counter infiltration grid is strong even though the enemy is now preferring other routes that includes Peer Panchal, Jammu and International Border to push in infiltrators and air-drop weapons etc
Replying to a query about drone challenges, he said that the army has procured drone jammers and other equipment to counter the air-dropping of weapons, ammunition and drugs. “The efficacy of such equipment is great,” he said—(KNO)
Situation along LAC with China stable but unpredictable: Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande
New Delhi, Jan 12: Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Thursday said the situation along the northern borders with China is under control but remains ‘unpredictable’.
Addressing the annual Army Day press conference, he said five of the seven thorny issues between the two armed forces have been presented on the table.
“Though unpredictable, the situation at the northern borders is stable and under control. We have been able to resolve five of the seven issues on the table in the talk as our preparedness is of very high level and we have enough reserves to deal with any contingency,” Army chief General Manoj Pande said at a press conference in the national capital on Thursday.
He further stressed the need to ‘remain alert’, saying the ceasefire has held well on the Pakistan border but the neighbour’s support to terror infrastructure and terror groups was still persistent.
“The ceasefire is holding well on the Pakistan border but the support to terror infrastructure and terror groups still remains. There is a marked reduction in the parameters of violence. Hence. we have to remain alert,” he said.
Later in his address, the Army chief said peace has returned to most of the states in the Northeast.
Speaking on Army Day, which is marked on January 15, every year, General Pande said they are fully aligned with the future national vision and have “decided to undertake transformation”.
“This Army Day is special as it is also the 75th year of India’s Independence. We are also fully aligned with the future national vision. We have decided to undertake a transformation,” he said.
General Pande said women officers might be commissioned soon into the Indian Army’s Corps of Artillery, as a proposal to that effect has been forwarded to the government for its assent.
“We also have the Army Martial Arts Routine which will help in dealing with combat situations. It is an amalgamation of different martial arts in the country,” he added.
Without naming China, the Army Chief further said they have been able to prevent all attempts to change the status quo (on the LAC) in a robust manner.
“In a firm and resolute manner with our soldiers deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), we have been able to prevent any attempts by (the) adversary to unilaterally change the status quo in a robust manner,” General Pande said. (Agencies)
Six arrested for bursting firecrackers, creating panic in Srinagar
SRINAGAR, Jan 12: Jammu and Kashmir Police said it arrested six persons for bursting firecrackers and creating panic among residents in Srinagar’s Zoonimar area.
Police on Wednesday said the arrested “miscreants” have a history of “indulging in stone pelting” in the past.
“5 Miscreants detained for bursting fire crackers on Syedpora-zoonimar stretch in the evening so as to create panic among the public. All these have history of indulging in stone pelting in the past. Further, examination is going on,” a Srinagar police tweet said.
“Initially 5, one later. 6 detained till now,” another tweet read.
Australian Open: Nadal handed tough draw; to open against Scott Draper; Djokovic, Kyrgios in same quarter
Spain’s World No. 2 Rafael Nadal, the most successful men’s singles player in tennis with 22 Grand Slam titles, was on Thursday handed a tough draw at the year’s first Grand Slam with an opening round encounter with Britain’s in-from Scott Draper at Melbourne Park.
The 2021-winner Novak Djokovic, who is close on Nadal’s heels with 21 Grand Slam titles, and Australia’s Nick Kyrgios are in the same quarter of the draw in the bottom half and are scheduled to meet in the quarterfinals.
Defending champion Nadal will need to be sharp from his first match against Draper, a 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals competitor. The 21-year-old, who owns two Top 10 wins, has made a quick start to his season. The World No. 40 will compete in the Adelaide International 2 semi-finals on Friday.
Nadal, on the other hand, has struggled in the United Cup, losing to Cameron Norrie, Draper’s compatriot, as Spain failed to advance in the United Cup.
If Nadal navigates past the British star, his path will not get much easier, with one of two Americans – Mackenzie McDonald or Brandon Nakashima – waiting in the second round.
Also in the Spaniard’s quarter is seventh seed Daniil Medvedev, which means a rematch of the 2022 Australian Open final between them could be played in the last eight. Sixteenth seed Frances Tiafoe, who upset Nadal at last year’s U.S. Open, is a potential fourth-round opponent for the lefty.
In the bottom half of the draw, nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic and Australian Nick Kyrgios landed in the same quarter. The 19th-seeded Kyrgios could play ninth seed Holger Rune in the third round and fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the fourth round before a quarter-final clash against Djokovic, who begins his pursuit of a record-tying 22nd major title against Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena.
Rublev’s first-round clash will be a blockbuster against his close friend, former World No. 3 and 2020 Australian Open finalist Dominic Thiem. Thirteenth seed Matteo Berrettini will open against former World No. 1 Andy Murray.
Snow avalanche hits Ganderbal’s Baltal, no damage reported
Srinagar: An avalanche has hit the Baltal area of Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Thursday, however, no loss of life or damage has been reported in the incident.
An official said that the local authorities have been alerted and are currently assessing the situation.
He said the area has been closed for the time being as a precautionary measure and the residents have been advised to stay indoors and not to venture out unnecessarily.
The official said the authorities have also set up emergency helplines for people who may require assistance. (KNO)
DSSP to welcome Bharat Jodo Yatra at kathua: Ch Lal Singh
DSSP to welcome Bharat Jodo Yatra at kathua
Dogra Swabhimaan Sangathan party in an extensive meeting of party workers and all rank and file unanimously decided to welcome Bharat Jodo Yatra at kathua today.
Addressing a massive gathering today at kathua , Ch.Lal Singh, Founder Chairman of DSSP fixed the agenda before the party workers to decide the line of action on the Bharat Jodo Yatra. All party rank and file unanimously decided to welcome the Yatra being headed by Sh.Rahul Gandhi on behalf of the party . DSSP which is also heading Municipal Council Kathua, decided to give a warm welcome to the Yatra on behalf of all Dogras of Jammu.
Ch.Lal Singh lambasted upon the forces held bent to break the secular fabric of Jammu and kashmir and gave a clarion call to all the positive and sane forces to arise the occasion and support the bigger cause of BHARAT JODO to defeat the nefarious designs of both enemies within and outside the country.
Dr.Hari Dutt Shishu, General Secretary of the party said that the Municipal Council headed by our party by Mr. Rajinder Singh Bubby shall involve the whole kathua city to give a graceful welcome to the Baharat Jodo Yatra in Kathua. DSSP shall proactively support all those parties which support the cause of Dogras and stand by our agenda of Jammu as a separate state.
Those prominent who participated in the meeting included Sr.Vice President KD Singh Jamwal, Bgr. Vidya Sagar Deeman, Prof HR Sharma, Vijyant Pathania, Paramveer Singh, Rahul Sharma, Divyansh Varma, Jatinder papu, Zahir Hussain, Sarpanch Ex Govind Sharma, Raghav Khajuria and Councilor Ashok Sharma, Ex.Sarpanch Daleep Singh.
Pay 164 Crores In 10 Days, Or Else…: Notice To AAP Over ‘Political Ads’
The Directorate of Information and Publicity of the Delhi government has issued a recovery notice of over 164 crore rupees to Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
The amount is related to alleged political advertisements and it needs to be paid within ten days. As per the notice, over 99 crore rupees is the amount spent on advertisements till March 2017 and the remaining around 64.31 crore rupees is the penal interest on this amount.
Earlier, LG V K Saxena had directed the Delhi Chief secretary to recover the amount from the AAP for political advertisements published in the guise of government advertisements.
Man Apprehended with Over Rs 57 Lakh Cash in Kashmir
Srinagar: The police have apprehended a man in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir after seizing more than Rs 57 lakh in cash from him. Syed Irfan Abdullah was caught in presence of a magistrate following recovery of Rs 57.43 lakh, which was concealed in a geyser, at Laribal in Kupwara, a police spokesperson said. A case has been registered and investigation initiated, the spokesperson added. pti