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At least 115 media workers killed on the job in 2022: report

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Geneva, Dec 15: Since January, 115 media workers have been killed in 29 countries so far, while Ukraine and Mexico topped the list for the most dangerous nations for mediapersons, a Geneva-based rights body said in a report.By region, Latin America topped the list with 39 journalists killed, followed by Europe with 37 victims, Asia 30, Africa seven and North America two, according to the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC).

Europe experienced the worst deterioration in the safety of journalists since the wars in former Yugoslavia from 1992 to 1999, said the EC report.

There has been at least 34 victims since the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24, with eight journalists killed in the line of duty.

Mexico came in second with 17 victims, the highest annual death toll in the countyr since at least the beginning of the century.

They were the target of criminal gangs in a climate of violence and impunity.

At the third place with eight victims is Haiti, followed by Pakistan (six), the Philippines (five), Colombia (four) and India (four).

Bangladesh, Honduras, Israel/Palestine and Yemen reported three media fatalities each.

Two media fatalities were registered each in Brazil, Chad, Ecuador, Myanmar, Somalia, Syria and the US.

The countries with just one victim each were the Central African Republic, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Paraguay, Russia, Sweden, Turkey and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, there was no casualties among mediapersons in Afghanistan so far this year, compared to the 12 in 2021.However, many journalists have fled the country.

“Rage Grab: The Revolutionary New Fashion Startup Bringing the Next Wave of Change to the Industry”

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Indian-based entrepreneur, photographer, and crypto enthusiast Mutahir Showkat recently announced the launch of his new fashion startup, Rage Grab. Unlike traditional clothing brands, Rage Grab will be a platform for the fashion world, providing a space for individuals and businesses to launch their own fashion stores.

Showkat, who is also the founder of Indian IT startup Chinar Media, has been interested in the potential of cryptocurrencies and web-3 technology for some time. With Rage Grab, he aims to address some of the problems he has identified within the fashion industry, particularly the lack of funding, platform, and direction for aspiring fashion designers and entrepreneurs.

In a recent statement, Showkat said that he has spent the last few years analyzing the fashion industry and has seen firsthand the challenges that many individuals and businesses face in trying to break into the market. “There are so many young people who are interested in fashion, but they often struggle to get the funding, investments, and guidance they need to launch their own brands,” he said.

With Rage Grab, Showkat hopes to provide a one-stop solution for fashion-related problems, offering everything from funding and investment opportunities to mentorship and guidance. He also revealed that the platform will have a strong focus on connecting the fashion industry with the emerging web-3 world, which he believes will be a revolutionary step for the industry.

Showkat said that Rage Grab is currently in the final stages of development and is expected to launch in beta form in August 2023. “We believe that Rage Grab will be a game-changer for the fashion world, providing a much-needed platform and support system for aspiring designers and entrepreneurs,” he said.

Overall, Mutahir Showkat’s announcement has been met with excitement and anticipation within the fashion and crypto communities, with many looking forward to seeing the potential of web-3 technology in the fashion industry.

DGP Dilbhag Singh directs for monitoring and keeping vigil on terror support system

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Say situation across J&K improving very fast & efforts are on to strengthen it further

JAMMU: The Director General of Police, J&K Dilbag Singh today visited Poonch, frontier District of Jammu Zone where he inaugurated newly constructed Police Station and Lower Subordinate Quarters at Loran. He later presided over a Darbar of Jawans and officers at DPL Poonch and also reviewed the security scenario of the District in officers meeting besides interacting with public representatives.

Accompanied by ADGP Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh and ADGP (Hqrs) PHQ, M.K Sinha, the DGP was received by DIG Rajouri-Poonch Range, Dr. Mohammad Haseeb Mughal, SSP Poonch Rohit Baskotra, and other senior officers. The DGP first inaugurated the newly constructed Police station at Loran and interacted with the Police personnel and locals there.

The DGP while addressing the Police Darbar said that district Poonch is by and large militancy free for that he congratulated personnel of Police, other Security forces and people of the area for their joint efforts. He said that Pakistan and its agencies are making continuous attempts to revive the terror structure here and want to keep anti-national activities alive in any form. He said that some people in the past have managed to cross the border and are in touch with their associates to revive the terror structure here adding that we have to make sure that no space is allowed to anyone linked with terror.

The DGP said that J&K Police alongwith other security forces have been working in a mission mode to ensure terror-free J&K. He stressed for utilizing the technical as well as human resources in tracking the terrorists who managed to infiltrate. He also directed for monitoring and keeping vigilance on terror support system to demolish the ecosystem. He said that a number of terror funding cases have been busted in the recent past yet there are reports of some elements attempting to generate funds for terror activities which he said are on constant radar.

He said that Pak and its agencies are supplying drugs with criminal intention to harm our young generation and to generate funds for terror activities. He stressed for stringent action against the elements found involved in drug trade as the menace not only harms the individual but society as a whole. The DGP also warned of stringent action against any officer or official found involved or helping drug trade, if any.

With regard to the welfare measures, Shri Singh said that welfare of Jawans and officers has always been the priority of PHQ and said that every possible help and assistance is being provided to our Jawans and officers including SPOs and NOKs of martyrs as and when required. He issued directions for redressing some grievances highlighted during the Darbar.

The DGP while chairing the officers meeting, directed for maintaining synergy to uproot the terrorism, terrorist networks and narco-terrorism. He said that twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch have been witnessing terrorist infiltration bids backed by the Pakistani authorities and added that due to synergy and close liaison between the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and other security forces many of such acts were thwarted on the border and in the hinterland successfully. He emphasized for strengthening of naka points on Mughal Road and also on national highway to keep check on transportation of drugs, weapons and other criminal activities. The DGP at the end of the meeting decorated the SP rank to the newly promoted officer Shri Sachin Gupta.

DIG RP range and SSP Poonch briefed the DGP about the security situation and measures taken to keep drug trade and anti-peace activities under check.

While speaking at the interaction with public representatives, the DGP thanked the people for their participation and assured them that their highlighted grievances would be taken up with concerned authorities for redressal. He cautioned them about the conspiracy being made from across the border to revive terror base in the district and said that like in the past, we have to work together to foil their intentions. “We have been moving forward successfully and have now reached to a final stage to realize the peaceful Jammu and Kashmir ” , he added. He said that People in J&K have understood the designs of anti-peace elements and are not responding to any sponsored bandh call. He appreciated the people of the District for maintaining the highest level of brotherhood.

Speaking to the media, the DGP said that the locals of the area have always extended their support to forces in war against terrorism. He said that the situation across J&K is improving very fast and efforts are on to strengthen it further. The DGP said that stone pelting, hartal call culture has completely ended and youth are taking part in constructive activities. He said that it is being ensured that people don’t face any inconvenience during their day to day activities. With regard to the inauguration of the Police station building and Lower Subordinate Quarters at Loran, he said that it is aimed to provide better working and living facilities to Jawans and officers.

ADGP Jammu Zone while speaking on the occasion said that Jammu and Kashmir Police alongwith other security forces has been working tirelessly to provide a better and secure environment to the people. He said that we have to continue our efforts with further strength to achieve the desired results.

The security review meeting besides the visiting officers was attended by DIG Rajouri Poonch, SSP Poonch, Commandant JKAP 6th Bn. Shri Suram Singh, Commandant CRPF 72 Bn Shri Ram Meena, Addl. SP Poonch Shri Mushim Ahmed, DySP DAR (Now SP) Shri Sachin Gupta and other jurisdictional officers. The Public meeting/interaction besides the senior police officers was attended by Shri Sunil Sharma chairman Municipal Poonch, Shri Riaz Naz DDC Loran, Shri Satish Sasan Pardan Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Moulana Farooq Ahmed Misbai, Shri Rajesh Sharma BJP District President, other PRIs and a large number of locals of the area.

Indian Air Force set for exercise in Northeast from today

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With an aim to check the combat readiness of its aircraft, the Indian Air Force will beginning Thursday carry out a two-day consolidated training exercise in the Northeast, officials said.

The exercise is taking place at a time when a face-off between Indian and Chinese troops at the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh took place on December 9 along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) preceded by attempts to violate air space on many occasions. “Indian Air Force is scheduled to carry out a consolidated training exercise this week in the eastern sector where the readiness of the aircraft would be checked. The training exercise has been planned much in advance,” the sources said.

“In the last few weeks, there have been two to three occasions where our fighter jets had to be scrambled to tackle the Chinese drones moving towards our positions on the LAC. The Su-30MKI jets had to be scrambled to tackle the air violation threat,” sources said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Parliament said that attempts by Chinese troops to transgress the LAC in the Yangtse area of Tawang Sector and unilaterally change the status quo were contested by Indian troops in a firm and resolute manner. “The Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts,” the minister said.

Defence sources told ANI that before the clash in the Yangtse area that Chinese drones had moved very aggressively towards the Indian positions on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh forcing the Indian Air Force to scramble its Su-30MKI fighter jets aircraft in the region.

On December 13, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed the Rajya Sabha that China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops tried to transgress the Line of Actual Control in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh Tawang Sector and unilaterally change the status quo but they went back to their locations due to timely intervention of Indian military commanders.

Giving a statement in the Rajya Sabha, the Defence Minister assured the Upper House that “our forces are committed to protecting our territorial integrity and will continue to thwart any attempt made on it”.

Sub-zero temperatures unabated in Kashmir, Pahalgam coldest at minus 5.6°C

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SRINAGAR, Dec 15: Sub-zero temperatures continued in Kashmir Valley with famous tourist resort of Pahalgam recording a low of minus 5.6°C on Thursday. There is no respite in sight also as Chillai-e-Kalan— the 40-day long chilliest part of the winter season—is all set to start from December 21 amid forecast for dry weather. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.
A meteorological department official here said Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.2°C against the previous night’s minus 3.2°C. While the mercury was around 2.4°C below normal during this time of the year, the official said, it was two notches above the lowest temperature recorded this season on December 5 and 14.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 3.6°C against minus 3.0°C on the previous night. The temperature 2.5°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
He said that Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 5.6°C against minus 5.3°C on previous night and it was 1.8°C below normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 1.3°C against minus 0.3°C as on the previous night and it was 0.2°C below normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 3.0°C against minus 4.0°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.2°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 3.2°C against minus 2.8°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.5°C below normal for the north Kashmir place, he said.
Jammu recorded a low of 7.1°C against 6.4°C on the previous night. It was 2.1°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of 3.8°C (above normal by 2.1°C), Batote 5.2°C (1.5°C abovenormal), Katra 7.5°C (0.3°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 2.0°C (1.6°C above normal).
Ladakh, Leh recorded minus 10.6°C and Kargil minus 11.6°C, the official said. The MeT department has forecast mainly dry weather till December 21. (Agencies)

200 fresh COVID-19 cases in India in the last 24 hours

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New Delhi, Dec 15: India saw a single day rise of 200 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases declined to 3,767, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.
The total tally of Covid cases in the country stands at 4.46 crore (4,46,75,447).
The overall death toll has risen to 5,30,663 with five fatalities – three reconciled by Kerala, and one each reported from Karnataka and Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am stated.
Active cases comprise 0.01 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.80 per cent, according to the health ministry website.
A decrease of 79 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The number of people who have recuperated from the infection surged to 4,41,41,017, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.
According to the ministry’s website, 219.98 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5, and 50 lakh on September 16.
India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4, three crore on June 23, 2021, and four crore on January 25 this year. (Agencies)

Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla to review crowding issues at Delhi and Mumbai airports

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NEW DELHI, Dec 15: Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Thursday will review the issue of crowding at airports, particularly in Delhi and Mumbai, with key stakeholders, officials said.
Bhalla has convened a meeting in the wake of continuous complaints from passengers about the rush at the entry gates, luggage dropping, and security check areas.
Representatives of key stakeholders such as the Civil Aviation Ministry, airport operators, CISF, and Bureau of Immigration are expected to attend the meeting, an official said.
Over the last two weeks, passengers have been posting pictures and videos of long queues and crowding at the IGI in Delhi and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai prompting authorities to take note and asking airlines and airport operators to ease the traffic.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has formed a pool of more than 100 personnel to man additional security counters expected to be handed over to it to ease the congestion at large airports of Delhi and Mumbai, official sources said.
The central paramilitary, designated as the national aviation security force, has informed airport operators, airlines, and the Union civil aviation ministry that while it can bring on board some more security personnel, there can be “no compromise on security protocols and standard operating procedures followed by it for regular frisking of passengers and scanning of cabin baggage apart from fliers required to undergo extensive search due to specific profiling.”
The civil aviation ministry had on Tuesday asked airlines to deploy adequate manpower at all check-in and baggage drop counters, besides requesting the scheduled airlines to update their social media feed with real-time numbers on the waiting time at airports’ entry gates.
The continued commotion at the airports has forced airlines to ask passengers to reach airports early, do a web check-in, and carry only one piece of hand baggage for faster movement. (Agencies)

Popular govt alone is the panacea for ills afflicting J&K: Harsh Dev

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Chenani, 14-12-2022: Accusing the present regime for its indifference and neglect of the common masses facing denial of even the basic amenities, both in urban and rural areas, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh, Former Minister and senior AAP leader said that a democratically elected govt alone was the panacea for the ills afflicting the centrally ruled UT of J&K. He said that babus requisitioned from other states mostly UP and Bihar had hardly any idea about the peculiar problems of the UT’s diversities and had failed to satisfy the urges of the people. While the common masses had hardly any access to the ‘babus’ operating from their cocooned Chambers, the latter too seemed to have abdicated their responsibilities of interacting with public so as to ascertain their difficulties and to take the appropriate remedial action for redressal of their genuine grievances, asserted Mr. Singh. He was addressing huge gatherings in Mada and Bhatla villages of Chenani constituency today.

      “While the frequent power outages and acute drinking water problems had made the lives of people a living hell, the helmsmen seemed to be least bothered about the sufferings of the public. As the affected people were protesting on roads on day to day basis, a highly impudent and apathetic bureaucracy preferred to remain cocooned in their sanitized environment quite unmindful of the woes of the agitating masses. Not only was the common man annoyed over the administrative apathy towards their basic concerns but varied sections of society had expressed their disapproval with the proxy rule of the centre. The unemployed youth including the contractuals, consolidated and daily wagers assured of a fair deal had all felt betrayed and cheated and were fighting for their rights on roads and streets with none to listen to their woes.



      Mr. Singh maintained that the people in the rural areas in particular were the worst victims of govt apathy with none to respond to their shrill cries for justice. Deprived of proper connectivity and communication, the people residing in several remote and far-flung areas had lost contacts with the civilized world due to road blocks and disruption of traffic on damaged roads for months together. Sadly there were no takers for even the staff deficient and defunct schools thereby jeopardizing the careers of rural students.

True Indian Secular Sun Shines In Jammu DSS Brings Kashmir to Kerala together

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Various religious scholars reflected unique unified diversity of cultures
and religions practiced in J&K UT. An adorable bouquet of Muslims with
Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Christians, that live together here happily and amicably
as Dogras were seen in a healthy mix of all the religions. We are proving the
verdict of the last Maharaja, Hari Singh who aptly said, quote “All religions are
my religions & my religion is justice” unquote, reminded Th. Gulchain Singh
Charak, President Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS) and former minister of J&K Govt.
For the first time J&K witnessed two Governors together on a stage proving the
dictum of ‘Kerala to Kashmir” one India.
Overwhelmed with the unity in diversity prevailing in J&K Governor
Kerala Shri Arif Mohd Khan held the audience in jam packed hall spell bound
with his very impressive talk on ancient Indian values that bound us together
as a nation. Our own Lt Governor also in his purposeful talk gave a clear
message against any divisive forces and terror mongers. “ Peace is not bought,
but established” said he, without mincing words.
The 118 years old DSS, an apolitical, secular social organisation
has once again successfully endeavoured to keep the diverse populations of
this region together in mutual respect and brotherhood. It was proved again by
bringing together national warriors, intelligentsia, religious heads and learned
well meaning prominent citizens from all trades and walks of life on one
platform.
DSS has stood firm by their message of unconditional ‘Humanity and
amicable brotherhood’ by organising what they called “Payam-e
Insaniyat/Manavta ka Sandesh/ Message of Humanity at Teachers Bhawan
Jammu.
It was a grand success in fostering and strengthening ties of equitable
and mutual love among various cross sections of Duggar Land as the Hon’ble

Governor Shri Arif Mohammad Khan and the J&K Lt Governor Shri Manoj Sinah
were seen together with the luminaries of all the four prominent religions of
the nation. It has boosted our traditional brotherhood and gave a clear cut
message to one and all when the climate is getting surcharged with elections
expected shortly in J&K UT. The opening address was given by Incharge DSS
Youth Wing Shri Gambhir Dev Singh Charak. The religious luminaries that
enlightened the audience included S/ Shri Vishwa Murti Shastri, Maulana
Shehzad Anwari Qasmi, Maulana Ghulam Hussain Rizvi, S. Ranjeet Singh Tohra,
Rev. Fr. Lawrence Tharsis & Shri Sandeep Jain. College and School students
gave very impressive presentations on the theme of ‘Message of Humanity’.
The grand event was also graced by highly decorated national warriors
like our legendry warrior Col Dr Virendra K Sahi, VrC & CI Champion Col
Rajinder Sharma KC, SC, SM. Present among them were also veteran Generals
Sh. G.S. Jamwal, Sh. R.K. Sharma, Sh. L.M. Arora, Mrs. Sunita Kapoor and
others, besides, large number of educationists, Legal luminaries, Artists,
Writers and representatives of Trade and Social organisations. Earlier Th. G.S.
Charak and Sh. Abdul Majid along with members of the reception committee
felicitated the Hon’ble Governor Sh. Arif Mohd. Khan and Hon’ble Lt. Governor
J&K by offering them Dogra Turbans and presenting Shawls.
Sabha leaders also disclosed that they will continue their efforts to spread this
message of humanity among the public of this region by organising such
conferences in different areas.
Prominent among others present during the Press Conference were, Sh. Abdul
Majid, Col K.S. Jamwal, Sh. Prem Sagar Gupta, Brig. M.S. Jamwal, Sh. G.A.
Khawaja, Sh. Gambhir Dev Singh Charak and Sh. Amanat Ali Shah.

NC will not beg Centre for polls in J&K, will be ready whenever they are held: Omar Abdullah

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SRINAGAR, Dec 14: National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah Wednesday said his party will not beg the Centre for assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters after a party function in Pahalgam, in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, he said the delay in the polls does not worry his party. The BJP is ”scared” and lacks the courage to conduct the polls in the Union territory, he added.
”We will see to it whenever elections take place. But I have been saying this, we will not beg for these elections,” Abdullah said.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said the NC would be ready whenever the Centre decides to conduct polls in the Union territory. The party is ready, but ”we will not beg for it”, he said.
”BJP members are scared, they do not have the courage to conduct the elections. Let them find the courage, plunge into the fray and then we will see where people stand,” Abdullah added.
Asserting that the party’s public meetings were not a signal to its workers that the elections were approaching, the NC vice-president said party leaders were meeting with workers in an endeavour to strengthen the organisation, identity loopholes and plug them.
On criticism over his remarks on Tuesday that the NC will revoke the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) after it forms the government in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah asserted that he had not said anything new.
”I have been continuously saying it for the last few years. I think I said it in the 2019 parliamentary polls as well, and I stand on this. When the NC forms the government, we will remove this law from the statute,” he added.
On the government’s latest order asking all outgoing lessees to immediately handover possession of the land taken on lease, the NC leader said it was very ”unfortunate”.
”I understand the leases have expired and they (government) want to renew those leases, but those people who have kept these institutions, structures, and businesses running in very difficult times, they should get first priority.
”Let the government fix the rates, ask the lease holders to renew at such rates, and if they cannot do that, then let the government look out for others. How is it justified that you want to vacate them from there first,” he asked.
The government aims to vacate them as it wants to bring people from outside, Abdullah claimed. (Agencies)