Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (ANI/ file photo)

SRINAGAR: Kashmir’s chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Friday met Iran’s ambassador to India, Dr Mohammad Fathali, and expressed condolences over the death of its top leaders in Israel-US attacks.According to a statement issued by Mirwaiz, he led delegation of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema, an amalgam of religious organisations of Kashmir, and conveyed his condolences over the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his family members and other leaders, and expressed “deep solidarity with the people of Iran in their hour of hardship”.The delegation condemned the war, which it said was “imposed” on Iran, and expressed hope that diplomatic efforts would prevail and peace and stability would be restored. Others who were part of the delegation included Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, Aga Syed Hassan Al-Mosvi, and Aga Syed Hadi AlMosvi, Aga Syed Mujtaba.During the meeting, Mirwaiz also highlighted the “deep-rooted cultural, historical and religious ties between Kashmir and Iran”. Kashmir has long been referred to as “Iran-e-Sagheer” (little Iran), he stated, stressing that it reflected the enduring bond between Kashmiris and the people of Iran.Thousands of people in Kashmir had gathered at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk and later in Budgam to condemn the killing of Khamenei earlier this month. The Valley also witnessed a large-scale donation drive following an appeal by the Iranian embassy, with people contributing cash, gold, traditional copperware, household items, vehicles and even livestock.Former CM and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti was the first political figure from J&K to visit the embassy to express solidarity with Iran, followed by National Conference MPs. On March 10, NC president Farooq Abdullah visited the Iranian diplomatic mission and signed the condolence book on Khamenei’s death.

A 10-year-old girl died in Maharashtra’s Sangli district after her father allegedly hung her upside down at their home and kept her in that position overnight, police said on Friday. The man had reportedly tortured the child on suspicion that she had stolen money from a relative.The accused, farmer Dadu alias Nana Yamgar, has been apprehended. Police said he also subjected the girl’s 11-year-old sister to similar torture. The elder sister is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.The incident came to light on Thursday after doctors informed police in Atpadi taluka about the death of the girl, identified as Rutuja.Other family members, including Yamgar’s father, tried to intervene and rescue the girls, but he allegedly threatened them with a sickle, police said. As a result, both girls remained hanging upside down throughout the night. Police added that even Rutuja’s repeated pleas for water did not move him.“Yamgar hung his two daughters – Rutuja and Anuja – upside down by tying their hands and legs to an iron angle installed on a wall of their house below the ceiling. He was angry as he suspected that both the girls had stolen money from a relative’s house at Banpuri in Atpadi,” a police official was quoted as saying by PTI.Police said both girls were found unconscious in the morning and were brought down by family members. The sisters were then rushed to a government-run hospital, but Rutuja’s condition worsened.She died while being taken to a hospital in Pandharpur in Solapur district, police said. Her elder sister, Anuja, is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.The matter came to light after hospital authorities alerted the police, following which the girls’ father was taken into custody. Police said the accused is suspected to be mentally unstable.A case has been registered against Yamgar under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and further investigation is underway.

Here are the top 5 news of the day:

Govt cuts excise duty to Rs 3 a litre on petrol, to nil on diesel amid Middle East tensions

Government has revised its fuel duty structure, lowering the special additional excise duty on petrol to Rs 3 per litre while removing it entirely on diesel. The decision comes against the backdrop of ongoing disruptions in global oil supply chains due to the conflict in the Middle East, where Iran continues to tighten control over the Strait of Hormuz. According to a government order dated Thursday, “the additional excise duty on petrol was cut to Rs 3 per litre from Rs 13 per litre earlier. Meanwhile, the excise duty on diesel was cut to Rs 0 from Rs 10 per litre earlier.” Read full story

Rajnath Singh to head inter-ministerial group to monitor issues arising from Middle East conflict

Union minister Rajnath Singh is set to head an inter ministerial group to oversee issues arising from the ongoing Middle East conflict. According to ANI sources, while Rajnath will lead, the group will have union home minister Amit Shah, union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and union petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri are among the members, along with other ministers. Read full story

India-US defence partnership: US envoy wraps up New Delhi visit, calls for closer military cooperation

US Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby concluded his official visit to India on Thursday. The visit focused on advancing the India-US defence partnership and key elements of the 2026 National Defence Strategy. The official trip, which began on Tuesday, involved high-level consultations with senior Indian officials and strategic discussions on defence cooperation. Read full story

‘Hats off to him’: Yograj Singh’s rare praise for MS Dhoni, slams retirement calls

In a surprising shift in stance, former India cricketer Yograj Singh has come out in strong support of MS Dhoni, urging the veteran to continue playing in the IPL while taking aim at those calling for his retirement. Yograj, who has been a vocal critic of Dhoni in the past, struck a markedly different tone ahead of IPL 2026. In an interview with InsideSport, he praised Dhoni’s longevity, discipline and commitment to the game, insisting that age should not be a factor in judging a player’s future. Read full story

From Fattah-2 to Qassem Basir: Where are Iran’s top missiles and why Tehran could be holding them back

As the Middle East continues to be shaken by near-daily missile attacks from Tehran, one key question stands out: what happened to Iran’s most advanced missiles? The likes of Qassem Basir, the Etemad and Fattah 2. According to a Financial Times report, Iran’s defence ministry unveiled its newest missile, the Qassem Basir, in May last year, claiming it could strike enemies “wherever they are and whenever necessary.” With a manoeuvrable 500kg warhead and an optically guided “terminal seeker” that cannot be electronically jammed, it is considered one of the most sophisticated weapons in Iran’s arsenal. Read full story

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday.According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), during the meeting, the Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the continuous support and guidance provided by the Central Government towards the development of Uttarakhand.CM Dhami noted that with this support, the state is achieving new milestones of growth. He also extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Uttarakhand.On the occasion, the Chief Minister presented a replica of Shaktipeeth Maa Surkanda Devi, along with Badri cow ghee, five varieties of rajma sourced from different districts of the state, and honey.The Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister for approving Rs 500 crore assistance for Haridwar Kumbh-2027, initiating a feasibility study under the river-linking project by the National Water Development Agency, sanctioning Rs 100 crore for the development of Chauraasi Kutiya in Rajaji National Park, signing an MoU for the Naini-Saini airstrip in Pithoragarh, and extending support for safe helicopter services during the Char Dham Yatra.He also expressed gratitude for the approvals of key infrastructure projects such as the undergrounding of electric lines in Rishikesh, Champawat bypass, Dehradun Ring Road, and the Dehradun-Mussoorie Road.As per the CMO, during the meeting, the Chief Minister provided detailed information on the steps taken by the state government based on the Prime Minister’s suggestions during his Uttarakhand visit. He highlighted that efforts are underway to develop Uttarakhand as a global wedding destination, with locations such as Chopta, Duggalbitta, Patwadangar, and the Sharda Corridor being developed, while Ramnagar, Dehradun, Rishikesh, and Triyuginarayan have already gained popularity. A dedicated wedding destination policy is also being formulated.He further informed that regions such as Bel Kedar, Anjanisain-Tehri, and Lohaghat-Shyamlatal have been identified as Spiritual Economic Zones. The introduction of the winter pilgrimage has significantly increased the number of devotees.The number of pilgrims visiting Adi Kailash increased from 1,761 in 2022 to 36,453 in 2025, supported by the launch of helicopter services. The state is also promoting adventure tourism activities such as river rafting, paragliding, and kayaking. Under the “Vocal for Local” initiative, local products are being promoted globally through the House of Himalayas brand.The Chief Minister also briefed the Prime Minister about initiatives like “One District One Fair,” cluster school schemes, Bharat Darshan, and Uttarakhand Darshan programs aimed at boosting education, tourism, rural economy, and self-employment.CM Dhami requested the extension of the Regional Rapid Transit System from Meerut to Haridwar and Rishikesh. He also sought policy support for establishing defence equipment manufacturing units in the state, citing Uttarakhand’s strategic location, skilled manpower, and industrial infrastructure.As per the CMO, proposals were made for setting up defence industrial hubs in Kotdwar, Haridwar, and Dehradun, along with the development of a BI-Duck bridge in Raiwala and the expansion of the Chinyalisaur airstrip in Uttarkashi.The Chief Minister proposed the introduction of seaplane services in Tehri Lake and requested the construction of the Delhi-Haldwani Expressway, which would improve connectivity to Kashipur, Rudrapur industrial areas, Pantnagar Airport, and Jim Corbett National Park, while strengthening logistics for hilly regions.Emphasising rail connectivity, he urged early inauguration of the Rishikesh-Vyasi section under the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project, construction of a road-cum-rail tunnel in the Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail line, survey for the Bageshwar-Karnaprayag rail line, and doubling of the Haridwar-Dehradun rail track. He also proposed a new Rishikesh-Uttarkashi rail line to improve connectivity to Gangotri and Yamunotri and strengthen supply chains for local products.The Chief Minister invited the Prime Minister to Uttarakhand for inaugurations and foundation-laying ceremonies of key projects. Proposed inaugurations include the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway and Tehri Pumped Storage Plant, while foundation stones are planned for the Pantnagar Airport expansion and Banbasa Land Port project.CM Dhami noted that the Banbasa Land Port, located on the India-Nepal border, will enhance trade, connectivity, and regional cooperation and strengthen international connectivity via the Asian Highway.The Chief Minister also highlighted several key reforms and initiatives in the state. Over 6,000 homestays have been registered under the homestay scheme, and the country’s first free marketing portal, “Uttarastays” has been launched. Centres of Excellence for apple, cherry, plum, and pear cultivation have been established in Chaubatia, Almora, along with farmer training programs. Under the Vibrant Village Programme, selected border villages are being developed by promoting local culture, cuisine, and handicrafts.He described the “Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme” as a game-changer for rural livelihoods, providing employment through solar energy projects. Under the “Chief Minister Entrepreneurship Scheme,” thousands of entrepreneurs have received incubation support. The “Devbhoomi Parivar Scheme” is creating a unified digital database of families to ensure transparent delivery of government schemes.Additionally, the state has implemented the “Agniveer Reservation Rules-2025,” providing 10% reservation in state services for former Agniveers. Through the “Uttarakhand Jan Vishwas Bill-2026,” processes have been simplified by amending various laws and repealing over 500 outdated regulations. The Chief Minister emphasised that major reforms have been undertaken in the industrial, labour, mining, revenue, and urban development sectors to improve ease of doing business in the state.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday offered prayers to Lord Ram and participated virtually in the Surya Tilak ceremony at Ayodhya‘s Ram Mandir.Earlier in the day, he extended greetings to the nation on the occasion of Ram Navami, wishing that the festival bring new energy and enthusiasm into the lives of the people. Taking to X, he said, “Heartfelt greetings to all countrymen on the occasion of Ram Navami. May this holy and sacred occasion of Lord Shri Ram’s birth festival bring new consciousness and fresh enthusiasm into all your lives and continuously provide new energy to the resolve of a strong, prosperous, and capable India. Jai Shri Ram!”