Author: Yusara Askari

Kashmiri girl wants to preserve traditional Urdu calligraphy art
19Aug By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Kashmiri girl wants to preserve traditional Urdu calligraphy art

At a time when everyone is busy typing on their smartphones, a young Saima Bhat from Kashmir wants to preserve the age-old traditional Kashmiri art of calligraphy.Originally from Anantnag district and currently residing in Srinagar’s Raj Bagh area, Bhat wanted to pursue the Urdu calligraphy art since childhood.She did her higher education from Kashmir University and then when her parents wanted her to study medicine, she took calligraphy.“My family wanted me to pursue medical studies while I wanted to learn calligraphy. After my higher education from Kashmir University, I took up the Urdu calligraphy course in the Art, Culture and Languages academy, which is a government institute in Srinagar,” said Bhat.“During my training period, I was offered various jobs including teaching opportunity
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Hope China will follow 2016 South China Sea arbitral award: Australian envoy
19Aug By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Hope China will follow 2016 South China Sea arbitral award: Australian envoy

Following Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong’s remarks, Australian High Commissioner Barry O’Farrell has said that he hopes Beijing will follow the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award and refrain from actions that unilaterally alter the status quo.“Thank you @China_Amb_India. I would hope then you follow the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award which is final and binding under international law, and also generally refrain from actions that unilaterally alter the status quo,” O’Farell tweeted.Earlier, Chinese Ambassador to India, Sun Weidong expressed discontent on the remarks made by O’Farrell on the South China Sea, saying Beijing’s territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests conform with the international law.“Remarks by Australian HC to India on the South China Sea disreg
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Thank PM for appreciating our efforts: J-K’s Dooru Municipal Committee Chairman
18Aug By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Thank PM for appreciating our efforts: J-K’s Dooru Municipal Committee Chairman

On the unexpected mention by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his radio programme, ‘Mann ki Baat’, the Municipal Committee Chairman of Dooru in Kashmir's Anantnag district expressed gratitude for appreciating his district’s work in containing coronavirus.Mohammed Iqbal Ahanger, Municipal Committee Chairman said that it was a joyous day for him. "It was totally unexpected that Prime Minister Modi would mention about our district and the contribution of my team. I am thankful to him for appreciating my work of sanitization and fumigation," Ahanger said."I am also thankful to my team for acknowledging my leadership and helping me with their efforts to bring out the best. I am glad that they followed the lead of their captain," he added.In the recent edition of 'Mann ki Baat', Prime Minister Mo
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Construction of new playground in full swing at J&K’s Wakura village
18Aug By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Construction of new playground in full swing at J&K’s Wakura village

To boost sports activities in Jammu and Kashmir and channelize the energy of the youth in the right direction, construction of a new playground is in full swing at Wakura village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.Chairman of Block Development Council Wakura, Ghulam Mohd Malik said that the playground will play a vital role to boost sports activities and help youths of the district to show their hidden talent in overall sports."It has been eight months that I have become chairman of the block. I felt that the youth in this area are good at sports and they are in need of a good playground. The playground is being constructed for an amount of Rs 13.24 lakhs," Malik said.Malik said funds are being released regularly since Jammu and Kashmir became Union Territory after the abrogation of
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Kashmiri woman wins laurels at national level painting competitions
17Aug By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Kashmiri woman wins laurels at national level painting competitions

With the return of peace in the Jammu and Kashmir, 24-year-old Shafiya Shafi, who hails from downtown Srinagar, has showcased her talent at the national level with paintings depicting the life of women.Being a contemporary and mural artist, Shafiya started her career after completing her Masters in Psychology from Kashmir University."I was inclined towards painting since childhood. I started taking part in competitions during college. It became a motivating factor for me and I started painting. It was later converted into a profession," she said."My paintings depict the struggle of women in her life. Success stories don't come out of their comfort zone. This is true as I faced a lot of struggles in my life. In Kashmir, parents don't focus much on careers in arts and I had faced struggles i...
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22-Year-Old Kashmiri Man develops low-cost Ventilator out of waste
15Aug By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

22-Year-Old Kashmiri Man develops low-cost Ventilator out of waste

Waseem Ahmad Nadaf, popularly known as 'Unique Waseem' has developed a small-sized ventilator from scrap which he says will prove handy in providing life support to the poor and underprivileged in times of crisisWith 32 innovations under his belt already, Nadaf, 22, said that he was mulling over developing a device to battle the coronavirus pandemic since its outbreak."Ever since the coronavirus pandemic broke out, I was thinking of developing something like this. Solutions can come from anywhere but the most important thing is that you have to be efficient and cost-effective, because poor people living in the slums cannot afford conventional ventilators. So, I collected scrap available at home, observed it and utilized it into developing this model, which can be used as a prototype and la...
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Re-construction of battered wooden footbridge in J&K’s Baramulla all set to complete
15Aug By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Re-construction of battered wooden footbridge in J&K’s Baramulla all set to complete

Jammu and Kashmir’s status change into a Union Territory has proved to be a game changer with many development projects, which were nowhere near completion for years, being finished within months.One of the projects is an extremely important footbridge connecting Old Town and New Town in the Baramulla district of North Kashmir. "Earlier the footbridge connecting Old Town and New Town was made of wood and was in very bad shape. With Jammu and Kashmir getting UT status, the work to construct a proper bridge commenced and now is going to be completed," said Abid Salaam, Corporator of Municipal Council Baramulla.In 2014, the wooden footbridge --- lifeline of the residents of the Old Town --- was damaged due to the floods. People used to travel across by boats as most of the big business establ
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Three terrorist associates arrested in J-K’s Bandipora
15Aug By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Three terrorist associates arrested in J-K’s Bandipora

In Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora, three terrorist associates have been arrested and incriminating material has been seized from their possession, Bandipora Police said on July 29.Identified as Abrar Gulzar, Mohammad Waqar and Muneer Ahmad Sheikh, the trio are residents of Bandipora, Chittay Banday and Quil Muqam Bandipora respectively, police said in a press statement.The three were arrested under various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and 7/27 IA act.According to police, the trio was involved in various subversive activities besides providing logistic support and assistance to terrorist operating in district Bandipora."Incriminating material has been recovered from the possession of the accused persons and further investigation of the case is going on," the police said.
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Five Pakistan policemen killed in midnight raid in Gilgit-Baltistan
15Aug By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Five Pakistan policemen killed in midnight raid in Gilgit-Baltistan

In an exchange of fire with suspects during a midnight raid, five Pakistani police officers were killed in Diamar's Chilas district in Pakistan occupied Gilgit-Baltistan area on July 28.Another five officers from the Gilgit counter-terrorism department sustained injuries. The incident happened in the Chilas area when suspects opened fire on the officers.The investigation into the incident is underway. Caretaker Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister Mir Afzal Khan said that "the suspects were involved in trading weapons, apart from terrorist activities," according to a Pakistani channel.
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Relish in the flavours of authentic Kashmiri dishes
14Aug By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Relish in the flavours of authentic Kashmiri dishes

Kashmir is not just defined by its snow-clad mountains and astonishing beauty, but also its exquisite cuisines that attract food lovers across the world.The food in Kashmir is renowned for burst of flavours which are soothing and yet hits all the taste buds. The rich dishes have evolved through several generations and have two distinct styles -- that of Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits.A signature dish in the Kashmiri cuisine is “rogan josh”, also called “rogan ghosht”. It is a heavenly aromatic curried meat dish of Persian or Kashmiri origin. It is made with red meat, traditionally lamb or goat. The delicacy is coloured and flavoured primarily by alkanet flower or root and Kashmiri chillies.The dish is cooked with onions, garlic and cardamom, and is prepared on special occasions in the Kashmi
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