New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday expressed serious concern over the growing drug menace in Punjab, pulling up the state authorities for allegedly failing to act against influential persons involved in narcotics trafficking while targeting only small-time peddlers for “publicity”. A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made the observations while hearing a suo motu matter concerning the creation of exclusive courts across the country for …

Srinagar, May 8 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday appreciated the Army and the civil administration for rescuing tourists stranded in the higher reaches of Gulmarg after a technical snag developed in a private helicopter.An official statement said that the Chief Minister appreciated the prompt and coordinated efforts of the Army and the civil administration in safely rescuing the stranded tourists following the helicopter malfunction in the ski resort town.The Chief…

New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced a comprehensive structural audit of all government schools in the national capital to assess the actual condition of infrastructure and essential facilities, an official said on Friday. The audit will examine the structural strength and safety of school buildings, along with basic amenities such as drinking water, toilets, cleanliness and fire safety systems.The decision was taken after the Chief Minister conducted a surprise…

Jakarta, May 8 (IANS) Three people were killed after Mount Dukono erupted in Indonesia’s North Maluku province, local police said on Friday.Search and rescue authorities earlier said that rescuers were working to evacuate about 20 hikers trapped by the eruption.Mount Dukono erupted at around 7:40 am local time on Friday, sending a column of volcanic ash up to about 10 km into the sky, Xinhua news agency reported.Local rescue authorities warned residents not to carry out activities within a 4-km …

Madrid, May 8 (IANS) Spanish Secretary of State for Health Javier Padilla said on Friday that the health authorities had taken relevant measures after detecting a suspected case of hantavirus in the eastern city of Alicante.The person travelled several weeks ago on the same flight as one of the infected individuals, Padilla said.He added that the person had developed symptoms compatible with hantavirus infection, although the authorities are still assessing whether the case can be confirmed, Xin…

Islamabad, May 8 (IANS) The handling of the Aurat March by Pakistan’s Sindh government this week has been criticised as a “disgraceful assault” on democratic freedoms. The events outside the Karachi Press Club could not be law enforcement, but the “suppression of peaceful civic activity”, a report said on Friday. According to an editorial in leading Pakistani daily Dawn, Aurat March organisers, for the eighth consecutive year, faced delays and intimidation over the issuance of a No Objec…

Abu Dhabi, May 8 (IANS) The Ministry of Defence of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stated on Friday that Iran has once again launched ballistic missiles and UAV’s on its territory. Condemning the attack, the ministry said that the UAE air defence systems engaged two ballistic missiles and three UAV’s that were launched from Iran. It also mentioned that the attack resulted in three moderate injuries.Earlier this week, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that three Indian nationals were …

Tel Aviv, May 8 (IANS) Pakistan has long portrayed itself as both a victim of terrorism and a partner in the global war on terror, yet the reported reconstruction of terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s Bahawalpur headquarters following a major Indian military strike during Operation Sindoor last year goes far more than just a South Asian security concern. It serves as a warning about how jihadist infrastructure can endure when states focus on managing international scrutiny rather than dismantling t…

Jaipur, May 8 (IANS) Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the state government over the deaths of two women following complications after caesarean section procedures at Kota’s New Medical Hospital, alleging that Rajasthan’s healthcare system had “completely collapsed”.In a strongly worded statement, Gehlot said the deaths of two new mothers and the critical condition of four other women were not isolated incidents, …

Jaipur, May 8 (IANS) Acting on intelligence inputs from the Rajasthan Anti-Terrorism Squad, a case has been registered against Gurwinder Singh at Sadar Patti Police Station in Tarn Taran district after pro-Khalistan content was found on platforms linked to him.​ Agencies are now expanding the investigation to trace the wider network and identify possible associates linked to the anti-national activities.​The action has been taken under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the…