Srinagar August 06:Senior journalist and artist, Nazir Ganaie, is all set to be featured in ‘Synthesis Symphony’ along with noted classical artists from across other Indian states.
According to organizers, Nazir Ganaie, a senior staffer with Srinagar based Greater Kashmir, besides performing his professional duties chose to preserve and promote the playing of Rabab instruments in the region. His effort has given impetus in popularizing this art form.
The organisers said that Ganaie would be part of the Synthesis team and would be accompanying noted vocalists Dhanashree Pandit Rai, Sonam Kalra, Anushree Gupta, Kutle Khan and Sunita Bhuyan. The other artists in the melodic team would be Ambi Subramaniam – (Carnatic Violin), Hidayat Khan – Sitar, Ajay Prasanna – Flute, Naviin Gandharv – Belabaharr, Sunita Bhuyan – Assamese Violin. While Nathulal Solanki – Nagaras Fazal Qureshi – Tabla and Padanth Sridhar Parthasarathy – Mridangam Vijay Chavan – Marathi Dholki Kutle Khan – Khartaal, would be part of the percussion team.
Ganaie said today said folk music and folk arts are witnessing the worst case scenario from the last over a decade due to the emergence of electronic music gadgetry. “Folk music has resonated with fans for as long as we can remember,” he said.
Composer, Ravi Iyer, said that it would be a great experience to understand the instruments of every region, especially Rabab, and use its tonality. The song has been written by K.C. Lot, mix-mastered by Aslam Khan – Mix & Master, and programmed by Abhinay Jain.
Art expert and CEO, ShowCase Events, Nanni Singh, while elaborating about Synthesis, said that it was her dream project to bring artists from places or origin together and work on unique projects that are aimed at promoting the real art forms.
“We work with an intent of showcasing the original music and good but dying talent, due to lack of right visibility and platforms. Curations leading to experiences is our main forte and music is our first love,”
“In the folk genre, what the artists today are playing as folk is totally commercialized music. That’s when we thought of channelizing our love for music into curations under the name of Sounds of India and curated our first one, ‘Sounds From The Desert’ a complete showcase of Rajasthani folk music. A production that had 19 artists from different parts of Rajasthan exhibiting their prowess and natural, untrained talent,” she said. “Similarly in synthesis we bring artists together from almost other areas of the county.” She said that she was excited to feature Rabab as an instrument in their productions and assured that she along with her colleagues would continue to promote real folk genres.
Srinagar, Aug 06: Failure of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to take measures for controlling the fast growing population of stray dogs is taking a heavy toll on people of the summer capital. People believe here that street dog numbers continue to affect people in majority of the areas of Srinagar city and this will be the trend if the authorities continue to do nothing. “The control methods used are inadequate, as trapping is rarely a method that is considered and is totally undervalued and underutilized,” one of the local residents of Srinagar city told this KINS Correspondent. The stray dog menace is more prevalent in city centre areas including Lal Chowk, Khayam, Khanyar, Munwarabad and Dalgate, Bemina, Batmalo, Qamarwari. People blame the authorities for not taking appropriate steps to reduce the increasing dog population. The cases reported with Socio and Preventive Medicine Department at the SMHS Hospital, the only tertiary care hospital in the Valley, has registered hundreds of dog bites during the recent years. To control the canine population in the city, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has taken the process of sterilization, but people said that it was a long process and there should be some short-term plan by the SMC to stop the cases of dog bites. “Sterilization is a long time process. The government is not serious in solving this grave issue. Something needs to be done timely to check the menace,” Habib-ullah, a resident of Srinagar told KINS. “Stray canines can be seen roaming on streets, chasing cars, pulling down bicycle riders and often attacking pedestrians and children ,” said another local resident. The situation is worse in the outskirts where the municipal corporation is not that active is checking the menace. The peripheral hospitals of Directorate of Health Services Kashmir receive thousands of cases of dog bites every year, sources said. According to experts, the reason behind the ferocity of the dogs is the high-protein food which is available regularly because of the dietary habits of residents of Kashmir, where mutton and chicken are a staple diet. “We fear that the dog population if kept unchecked could trigger fear psychosis among people. The dog issue needs to be dealt with seriously or else by four years dogs may outnumber Srinagarites and they will victimize every one of us,” The SMC officials couldn’t be contacted for their comments.(KINS)
Starting August 06, The Kashmir Premier League is a six-team competition that would be held in Muzaffarabad. The final would be held on August 17. The six teams who would compete for the title are–Muzaffarabad Tigers, Kotli Lions, Bagh Stallions, Overseas Warriors, Mirpur Royals and Rawalkot Hawks.
PHOTO COURTESY: KPL
Disclaimer: This video is not a work by Kashmir Today Staff.
Over 90 Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrorists were killed; and 16 others suffered injuries in security operations conducted by Afghan forces in the past 24 hours in the city of Lashkar Gah, the Afghan Defence Ministry announced on Friday.
Last week, heavy fighting erupted between Taliban and Afghan forces in the capital of Helmand Province.
The ministry said the Taliban’s red unit commander for Helmand named Mawlawi Mubarak was among those killed in the recent operations.
“Taliban’s red unit commander for Helmand named Mawlawi Mubarak among 94 other terrorists including Taliban and AQIS members were killed & 16 others wounded in the past 24 hrs by Afghan Armed Forces in #Lashkargah,” Afghan Defence Ministry spokesperson Fawad Aman tweeted.
In the past few weeks, Afghanistan has witnessed a surge in violence as the Taliban has intensified their offensive against civilians and Afghan security forces with the complete pullback of foreign forces just a few weeks away.
The Taliban forces have also taken control over several districts of Kandahar and have detained hundreds of residents whom they accuse of association with the government.
The Taliban have reportedly killed some detainees, including relatives of provincial government officials and members of the police and army.
In another recent development, civilian casualties in Afghanistan in the first half of 2021 reached record levels with over 1,659 people killed and 3,254 others wounded.The rise is mainly due to a spike in violence in May that corresponded with the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan.
Moreover, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Wednesday that they will continue their attacks on Afghan officials, after a car bomb attack on the country’s acting defence minister General Bismillah Mohammadi’s house.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will be meeting on Friday, August 6, under Indian Presidency to discuss the surge in violence by the Taliban in Afghanistan post US drawdown.
Iran could acquire material to build nuclear warheads in 10 weeks
Israel ‘Ready to Attack Iran’ as Defense Minister of Israel Says ‘We Need to Take Military Action’
AFP | AP
Israel has warned that Iran could acquire material to build nuclear warheads in “about 10 weeks” as the Islamic Republic swore in its new hardline President Ebrahim Raisi.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said his government is prepared for an escalation in tensions with Tehran following a series of incidents in the Gulf of Oman, including two attacks on Israeli-linked ships in the space of a week.
The attacks came after a series of suspected sabotages of Iranian facilities linked to its civilian nuclear program, which Israel has long claimed is a front for developing nuclear weapons.
A prominent Iranian scientist thought to have been a key figure in the program was also assassinated in November 2020. Mossad, the Israeli state spy agency, is thought to have been behind the raids.
The United States and the United Kingdom joined Israel on Sunday in alleging Iran carried out a fatal drone strike on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea, putting further pressure on Tehran as it denied being involved in the assault.
Calling it a “unlawful and callous attack,” British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said his country and its allies planned a coordinated response over the strike Thursday night on the oil tanker Mercer Street. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken soon followed, saying there was “no justification for this attack, which follows a pattern of attacks and other belligerent behavior.”
Israel has warned that Iran could acquire material to build nuclear warheads in “about 10 weeks” as the Islamic Republic swore in its new hardline President Ebrahim Raisi. (File/AFP)
The strike on the Mercer Street marked the first-known fatal attack after years of assaults on commercial shipping in the region linked to tensions with Iran over its tattered nuclear deal.
While no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, Iran and its militia allies have used so-called “suicide” drones in attacks previously, which crash into targets and detonate their explosive payloads. However, Israel, the U.K. and the responding U.S. Navy have yet to show physical evidence from the strike or offer intelligence information on why they blame Tehran.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett went further than Blinken and Raab in his remarks Sunday at a Cabinet meeting, making a point to stare directly into the camera and slowly warn: “We know, at any rate, know how to convey the message to Iran in our own way.”
The drone attack blasted a hole through the top of the oil tanker’s bridge, where the captain and crew command the vessel, a U.S. official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as an investigation into the attack still was ongoing. The blast killed two crew members from the United Kingdom and Romania.
The Navy said the American nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and the guided missile destroyer USS Mitscher had escorted the Mercer Street as it headed to a safe port. On Sunday, satellite-tracking information from MarineTraffic.com showed the tanker stopped off the coast of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.
In his statement, Raab said it was “highly likely” Iran attacked the tanker with one or more drones.
“We believe this attack was deliberate, targeted and a clear violation of international law by Iran,” he said. “Iran must end such attacks, and vessels must be allowed to navigate freely in accordance with international law.”
Blinken similarly described the U.S. as “confident” Iran carried out the attack, using multiple drones.
“These actions threaten freedom of navigation through this crucial waterway, international shipping and commerce, and the lives of those on the vessels involved,” he said in a statement.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh described the allegation Iran carried out the attack as “baseless.”
“It’s not the first time that the Zionist regime occupying Jerusalem has made such empty accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Khatibzadeh said. “Wherever this regime has gone, it has taken instability, terror and violence with it.”
He added: “Whoever sows the wind shall reap the whirlwind.”
Khatibzadeh spoke around an hour after Iran’s outgoing president acknowledged that his government at times “did not tell part of the truth” to the public during his term.
From Jerusalem, Bennett offered condolences to both the United Kingdom and Romania for the killing of their citizens. He said Israeli intelligence had evidence linking Iran to the attack, but did not offer it.
“Iran is the one who carried out the attack against the ship,” he said. “Iran’s aggressive behavior is dangerous not only for Israel, but harms global interests in the freedom of navigation and international trade.”
Other Israel-linked ships have been targeted in recent months as well amid a shadow war between the two nations, with Israeli officials blaming the Islamic Republic for the assaults. Shipping in the region began being targeted in the summer of 2019, about a year after then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers.
Israel meanwhile has been suspected of conducting a series of major attacks in Iran and on Iranian shipping. Also, Iran saw its largest warship recently sink under mysterious circumstances in the nearby Gulf of Oman.
The Mercer Street, owned by Japan’s Taihei Kaiun Co., is managed by London-based Zodiac Maritime, part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group. In early July, the Liberian-flagged container ship CSAV Tyndall, once tied to Zodiac Maritime, suffered an unexplained explosion on board while in the northern Indian Ocean, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.
The attack marks the first major confrontation with Iran for Bennett, who took over as premier in June after a coalition deal unseated Israel’s long-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu is suspected of launching a series of attacks targeting Iran, including explosions at the country’s main enrichment site and the killing of a prominent military nuclear scientist.
However, Bennett as well has made hawkish comments in the past about needing to attack “the head of the octopus” in Tehran as opposed to Iran’s regional militias like Hezbollah in Lebanon. The attack on the Mercer Street marks the first during his time as prime minister and analysts suggest he could seek a major attack in retaliation.
“Israel may wish to deliver a resounding blow; that’s the spirit of political sources’ comments in Jerusalem,” wrote Amos Harel, a longtime military analyst for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. “This blow will be aimed at ending things without a tit-for-tat that could escalate. But as usual, events also depend on the other side.”
Talks are underway in Vienna to resurrect the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, from which the US withdrew in 2018. Israel staunchly opposes the deal.
“The Iranian regime is threatening us and sparking a regional arms race,” Gantz said at a meeting of ambassadors from members of the UN Security Council.
“Iran has violated all of the guidelines set in the JCPOA, and is only around 10 weeks away from acquiring weapons-grade materials necessary for a nuclear weapon,” he added.
“Now is the time for deeds — words are not enough. It is time for diplomatic, economic, and even military deeds, otherwise the attacks will continue.”
Raisi told Iran’s Majlis (Parliament) that the nuclear program is “completely peaceful.” In reference to the JCPOA, he said he would “support any diplomatic plan” that leads to the easing of sanctions on Iran.
Ganderbal, Aug 06 : An Army man allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself to death inside an army camp in Mansbal area of Centeral Kashmiri’s Ganderbal on Friday.
Official sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the army man of HQ Bn 207 Army Unit committed suicide by hanging himself inside the camp.
They further said that investigation has been started to ascertain the reasons as to why he took this extreme step—(KNO)
SRINAGAR, AUG 05:Former CM and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday marched out on Srinagar streets while observing 5th August as black day.
PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti said that today is a day of mourning for Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP government started harassment and vandalism in 2019. It is unfortunate that BJP is celebrating while Kashmir is mourning. We will oppose it. We will force the government to talk to Pakistan to address the external dimensions.
PDP workers were raising slogans take back black judgement of black day at earliest. PDP has been advocating for restoration of special status of Jammu and Kashmir despite that dozens of leaders have left the party.
Significantly, on August 5, 2019, Article 370 was abolished from Jammu and Kashmir and its special status was also abolished and the erstwhile state was divided into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Mufti and her PDP have been quite vocal in opposing the Centre’s move two years ago. Not only this, Mehbooba Mufti was placed under house arrest for a long time.
“Today is a day of mourning for Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP government started oppression, vandalism in 2019. It is unfortunate that the BJP is celebrating while Kashmir is mourning. We will oppose it. We will let the government look at external dimensions. Will force to talk to Pakistan to address,” Mehbooba Mufti said.
Srinagar, Aug 05 : On the completion of two years of abrogation of Article 370 and 35A of India’s own constitution and break up of J&K into two union territories, in an attempt to erase its status as a disputed territory, All Parties’ Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has reiterated its strong resentment and opposition to these unilateral and arbitrary actions.
APHC, in statement, issued said that it would also like to draw attention of the citizens of India and the world at large, that the present Indian Government’s actions of August 5,2019 has only complicated the dispute further over the state of J&K.
“This is illustrated by the fact that it ignited the flames along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) even as some measure of calm has been introduced along the Line of Control. It is worth pointing out that whereas before August 2019 New Delhi would argue that Kashmir was the main trouble spot in the state, today it is faced with four trouble spots of Leh, Kargil and Jammu as there is disaffection in these regions too.”
It said that meanwhile, the government continues to assault the people of the state by continuing to incarcerate political prisoners and youth, intimidate people by arrests and bringing in arbitrary and anti-people laws, media gags ,arbitrary dismissal of locals from government services, gagging all voices of dissent and continued misrepresentation of the actual conditions in the (former) state.
It said that APHC has had a long-standing policy of engagement in meaningful dialogue among all the stakeholders, that sees the situation on the ground for what it is and encourages dialogue rather than armed confrontation.
“The latter benefits no one and harms everyone. Nor is intransigence and denial a helpful stance. All political prisoners, including APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, hundreds of youths and all others arrested arbitrarily or under draconian laws should be released by the government.”
The statement reads that the APHC is cognizant that although they cannot match the muscle of status quo powers, the political education in the last thirty years has been significant and they appreciate all platforms that give them a voice. .These platforms must be created and we should be allowed to participate in them – not only to allow our voice as peoples representatives be heard, but because it is just . It is time that the conflict over the state of J&K is resolved so that not just Kashmir, but all of South Asia can look forward to living up to its collective potential.(KNS)
Will continue our democratic, peaceful, constitutional battle for restoration of people’s rights
Srinagar, 05 August: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Party President, and Member of Parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday reiterated the party’s position on the unilateral, unconstitutional and undemocratic decisions taken on 5, August 2019 will never change and that the party will keep up with its struggle for the restoration of J&K people’s abridged constitutional and democratic rights.
In a statement issued Dr Farooq said this while addressing a meeting of party functionaries, here at party headquarters Nawa e Subha, Srinagar. He termed the august 5 decisions as a lethal assault on the country’s secular visage, its pluralistic and asymmetrical federalism and violation of sovereign promises made by the country to the People of Jammu , Kashmir and Ladakh.
He said the abrogation of Articles 370, 35-A, downgrading of J&K into two UTs are few milestones for which the people of J&K would never forgive the present government.
Among others Party General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, Additional General Secretary Dr. Mustafa Kamal, Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, Senior Leaders Mubarak Gul, State Women’s Wing President Shameema Firdous, Central Zone President Ali Muhammad Dar, Provincial Secretary Showkat Ahmed Mir also addressed the functionaries. Among others Peer Afaq Ahmed, Qaisar Jamsheed Lone, Syed Tauqeer Ahmed, Dr Sajad Shafi Uri, Tanvir Sadiq, Imran Nabi Dar, Salman Ali Sagar, Er. Sabiya Qadri, Mudassar Shahmiri, Ifra Jan, Younis Mubarak Gul, JS Azad, GN Tailbali, scores of parent body, YNC functionaries were also present on the occasion.
Those who spoke on the occasion termed the August 5, 2019 decisions of the incumbent ruling dispensation in New Delhi as a catastrophic event in the recent history of Jammu and Kashmir that gave a death knell to the vital democratic, political, constitutional, cultural, economic interests of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and ladakh. “In the run up for abrogation on the fateful day of august 5, 2019, it was said that the rationale behind the decisions was to facilitate the integration and bring about better administration. Two years have passed since, not a single promise has materialized on ground. The decisions have only managed to suspend democracy in the state, and put all the crucial institutions on death bed. As against facilitating the integration and bringing the region at par with other states, as was promised, the GOI has inversely been thrusting custom made top bottom decisions on the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Post unilateral abrogation of its status, the region has been put on much lower pedestal than other constituent units of the union,” the functionaries said.
The functionaries said that the decisions have come with a steep cost to people of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh in the shape of collapsed economy, growing administrative inertia, and development deficit as well. “A choked atmosphere has been created in J&K. The idea of peace still remains elusive. BJP’s drum beating has not helped it gloss over the fall out of its imprudent decisions. Huge barriers have been placed aimed to deny political space to voices of dissent be it political or from the media fraternity. The employees and youth have been pushed to the wall by New Delhi without any hesitation. The successive executive orders post abrogation in the shape of issuance of domicile certificates, curbs on media, intimidation of government employees, discriminatory rules on employment are some of the top down authoritarian diktats that have been pushed down the throats of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” they said.
