New Delhi: While breast and lung cancer are among the most common cancers in India. kashmir Facing a distinct burden of cancer, colon cancer is emerging as a major concern. Concerned over the high prevalence of gastrointestinal cancer in the Valley, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched a special initiative to strengthen cancer screening, early diagnosis and treatment in Jammu and Kashmir.More than 14 lakh cancer cases are reported every year in India, and Jammu and Kashmir is expected to record more than 67,000 cancer cases between 2018 and 2024. According to ICMR, gastrointestinal cancer, especially stomach cancer, is highly prevalent in the Kashmir Valley, followed by esophageal and colorectal cancer.To address the increasing burden, ICMR has invited research teams from Jammu and Kashmir to develop and test a model for large-scale cancer prevention and screening through the public health care system. The initiative will focus on oral, breast, cervical and gastrointestinal cancers.Under the programme, adults aged 40 years and above will be screened for gastrointestinal cancer, women aged 30 years and above for breast cancer, sexually active women aged 30-60 years for cervical cancer and adults aged 18 years and above for oral cancer. The screening will be done through district hospitals, community health centres, primary health centers and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.Dr Rommel Tikku, Senior Director, Internal Medicine, Max Hospital, Saket, said Jammu and Kashmir continues to have a high burden of stomach, esophageal and colorectal cancers due to a combination of traditional dietary practices, Helicobacter pylori infection, tobacco use, genetic susceptibility and changing lifestyles such as obesity and physical inactivity. He stressed that early detection through timely screening, especially in people over 40 years of age and those with risk factors, can significantly improve survival and help reduce cancer-related deaths in the region.The main focus will be on improving screening coverage, ensuring early diagnosis and connecting people who test positive to treatment services. The program will also involve health workers and communities to encourage participation in cancer prevention and screening.The four-year project aims to develop an evidence-based model for prevention, detection, early diagnosis and treatment that can be integrated into the National Program for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) and potentially scaled up across Jammu and Kashmir.

Bengaluru/New Delhi: Congress high command, with Chief Minister-designate DK Shivakumar and Caretaker Chief Minister SiddaramaiahDiscussions took place till late night in New Delhi on Sunday to finalize the composition of the new Karnataka cabinet. With Shivakumar taking oath on Wednesday, there is a plan to induct 10 to 20 ministers in the first phase.Read this also What can make or break DK Shivakumar’s reign in Karnataka? A senior party official said that while the initial list is almost ready, some additional names are still under consideration. “Though 10 names have been finalised, another 10 are being discussed for the first round of swearing-in. The final list may come on Wednesday,” he said. Before formalizing it, the list of probables will be presented before AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. The discussion also focused on key organizational and constitutional appointments including KPCC President, Assembly Speaker and Legislative Council Speaker. Shivakumar is said to be supporting Satish Jarkiholi, HK Patil and BK Hariprasad for key organizational and cabinet roles, while Siddaramaiah is believed to be supporting Hariprasad for the post of state party chief.Siddaramaiah is also advocating for the inclusion of AHINDA loyalists.Siddaramaiah is also lobbying for the inclusion of his Ahinda faction loyalists in the cabinet, although other leaders have indicated that more than 10 of his nominees are unlikely to be included.Jarkiholi is reportedly demanding both a cabinet berth and an organizational role.The issue of Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) posts has emerged as a major point of contention within the Congress. It is being said that Siddaramaiah is pushing for DCM posts for G Parameshwara, BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, KJ George and MB Patil. However, Shivakumar is reportedly against the idea of ​​DCM, arguing that it could create parallel power centers and create unnecessary political controversy.The high command is also considering including Siddaramaiah’s son Yatindra in the cabinet. While state and national level leaders in the party are keen to ensure this representation to protect the Kuruba vote base in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah is not pushing his case. Their concern is that such a move could be interpreted as nepotism.“Last time I met the high command, Rahul Gandhi said that my interest will be taken care of and I will be included in the cabinet. So, I am hopeful. Whatever be the portfolio, I will be happy,” said Yatindra, adding that he is not harboring any DCM ambitions.The Congress leadership also reviewed the preparations for the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections to be held on June 18. Based on its current strength in the Assembly, the party is projected to win three of the four Rajya Sabha seats and five of the seven MLC seats.Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, members of the Dalit community protested outside the KPCC office and urged the leadership to appoint a Dalit leader as DCM. The protesters demand that senior leaders G Parameshwara, KH Muniyappa and HC Mahadevappa be considered for the post. The demonstration was led by Dalit leader K Venkataswamy.Separately, Congress workers in Halkarti village of Chittapur taluk performed special puja at Veerbhadreshwar temple and demanded appointment of minister Priyank Kharge as DCM.In Bengaluru, supporters of Shantinagar MLA and BDA president NA Haris performed rituals at the Adishakti temple at the GBA headquarters, demanding DCM post or cabinet berth for him. 108 coconuts were plucked as part of the ritual.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has held that a rape victim should not be harassed by repeatedly calling her to appear in court for cross-examination during trial proceedings. A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma set aside an order passed by the Tripura HC which had allowed the plea of ​​the accused to recall the victim for questioning after four years, as she had already been cross-examined. It said that the prosecutor had to go through the process of testifying and cross-examining him on four separate occasions before the trial court, apart from during the investigation under Section 164 of CrPC and recording his statement before the Magistrate, and recalling him after four years of cross-examination was harsh.“Instructing the recall would cause further and undue hardship to the prosecutor. Witnesses cannot be expected to face difficulty in appearing in court repeatedly, especially in sensitive cases. “This may result in undue hardship to the victims, especially for heinous crimes, if they are required to appear in court again and again to face cross-examination,” the SC said. The HC had passed an order recalling a survivor under section 311 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on a petition filed by the accused. Noting that the application was filed four years after the cross-examination of the victim was completed and sufficient grounds do not exist to recall the victim after such a long delay, the court allowed the plea of ​​the state government, which had challenged the HC order.Section 311 of the CrPC states that “Any court may, at any stage of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Code, summon to the attendance any person, even if not called as a witness, or recall and re-examine any person already examined; and the court may summon and examine or recall and re-examine any such person if his evidence Appears necessary for proper decision of the case.The court said that the power conferred under Section 311 is undoubtedly wide, and such power needs to be exercised in a restrained and judicious manner and not arbitrarily. Citing previous orders it said, “Merely to say that the recall was necessary to ensure a fair trial is not sufficient, unless there are cogent reasons to show how a fair trial was harmed without the recall. Recall is not a fixed matter, and the discretion given to the court must be used judiciously and not arbitrarily to prevent miscarriage of justice.”In this case, the accused was first examined and cross-examined in chief on June 4, 2018, followed by further cross-examination in August 2018. Subsequently, the prosecution filed an application under Section 311 of the CrPC seeking recall of the accused and re-examination. He was further examined and cross-examined in August and November 2019. Four years later, the accused sought to recall him in the witness box, which was rejected by the trial court but allowed by the HC. However, the SC has now set aside the HC order.

New Delhi: India expects fertilizer consumption to be lower during the kharif sowing season in view of the IMD’s below-normal monsoon forecast, a top government official said on Monday. He said that the demand for urea is now estimated at 190 lakh tonnes as against the earlier estimate of 194 lakh tonnes.Demand for diammonium phosphate (DAP) – another key soil nutrient – ​​has been reduced to 60 lakh tonnes from the earlier estimate of 66 lakh tonnes.Aparna Sharma, Additional Secretary, Department of Fertilizers, said that in view of the El Nino effect, the department had requested the Agriculture Ministry to re-evaluate the requirements. He said that the Ministry has informed about the reduction in demand for urea and DAP on the basis of regular interaction with the states.The official also said the government has issued a second global tender to import 17 lakh tonnes of urea despite a sharp rise in global prices to boost domestic supplies for the Kharif season. Sharma said that the global price of urea has increased from $ 447 per tonne to $ 947 per tonne in February.Meanwhile, Consumer Affairs and Food Department officials said there is surplus stock of rice, wheat and pulses to meet domestic demand and market intervention.Anupam Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, said the government has a buffer stock of pulses of about 43 lakh tonnes, which is more than double the stock recorded in May 2025.He said production of major horticultural crops like potato, tomato and onion is sufficient to meet domestic demand – potato production is 584 lakh tonnes as against 586 lakh tonnes in the last crop year; Tomato 227 lakh tonnes as against last year’s 205 lakh tonnes; And onion is 273 lakh tonnes as against last year’s 307 lakh tonnes.The government has also set a target of creating a buffer stock of 2 lakh tonnes of onion in 2026-27.Food department officials said that as of May 2026, the wheat stock in the central pool stood at 513 lakh tonnes, almost double the buffer standard set for July 1. Wheat procurement during the current Rabi marketing season has reached about 350 lakh tonnes and the procurement operation is continuing till June 30.Rice stock in the central pool stands at 397 lakh tonnes, almost three times the buffer stock required for July 1.

Kulgam: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, while leading the “Drug Free Jammu and Kashmir Padyatra” in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Monday, said the Jammu and Kashmir administration is planning to set up rehabilitation centers across the state to help drug addicts reintegrate into the society.Speaking to TOI on the sidelines of the event, Sinha said the operation has largely disrupted the drug trafficking network across Jammu and Kashmir. “Our operation has broken the supply chain and those involved in drug trafficking are facing a tough time,” he said.Sinha said hundreds of people affected by drug addiction are contacting the national mental health helpline Tele-Manas Srinagar every day to seek treatment and counselling. He said the campaign has also encouraged public participation, with residents directly informing the police about drug-related activities in their areas.The LG said de-addiction centers are functioning in all the districts of Jammu and Kashmir and counselors have been deployed to provide psychological support and long-term treatment to people recovering from drug addiction.He said unlike many other parts of the country, where rehabilitation facilities are largely run by the private sector, the proposed centers in Jammu and Kashmir will be set up in the government sector and will be made available in every district.Addressing the gathering at the event, Sinha said that in the last 51 days, they have conducted a comprehensive, coordinated operation against narco-terrorists and drug traffickers.On April 11, Sinha had launched an intensive 100-day campaign under the Nasha Mukti Abhiyan to make Jammu and Kashmir “drug free”.The campaign includes massive awareness programs by the civil administration and police, destruction of poppy plantations, random urine testing of drivers and intense crackdown on drug networks.In the last 51 days since the launch of the campaign, 923 FIRs have been registered against alleged drug smugglers. Over 1,000 alleged drug smugglers have been arrested, with over 55 alleged drug smugglers detained.He said, “This campaign is directly attacking the financial backbone of terrorism. Every rupee spent on drugs fuels extremist violence, and narco-terrorists survive on that blood money. By disrupting the drug trade, we have cut off the lifeline that sustains terrorist networks.”According to “Prevalence and Pattern of Substance Abuse Disorders in Ten Districts of Kashmir”, a survey conducted by IMHANS Kashmir in 2023, there are an estimated 67,468 substance dependent persons in the valley. The survey states that heroin is the most commonly used opioid.

New Delhi: Amid ongoing tensions in West Asia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates are expected to join fellow BRICS members at the bloc’s second Cultural Working Group meeting in Varanasi on June 4-5. The conference will discuss the theme “Building Resilience, Innovation, Collaboration and Sustainability” with Artificial Intelligence and the repatriation of cultural property among the priority areas for discussion and consensus building.The Varanasi meeting is being considered important to pave the way for the ministerial talks to be held in Bhopal in August, with the Culture Ministry hoping that the members will be able to reach a consensus and give a statement on the thematic areas. The upcoming Working Group meeting assumes significance in the current geopolitical context, as it is taking place in the backdrop of the West Asia crisis. The first BRICS Culture Working Group meeting was held in virtual mode on 29-30 April. After the second meeting of the grouping in Varanasi, the third meeting of the CWG will be held in Bhopal on August 5-6, followed by the BRICS Cultural Fest on August 6-7 and the BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting (CMM) on August 7 and 8, also in Bhopal, Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal highlighted at a press conference. He also shared the roadmap and priority areas. The deliberations of the 2026 BRICS Culture Working Group are structured around three key thematic priorities: ‘Creative economy, cultural and creative industries, copyright and artificial intelligence’, ‘Cultural heritage protection and return of cultural property’ and ‘Culture, climate and sustainable development’.“These priorities reflect a commitment to innovation, ensuring ethical use of technology in cultural sectors, preserving cultural diversity, advancing heritage conservation and restoration cooperation, and engaging with the post-2030 global sustainable development agenda,” the culture ministry said in a statement.India has consistently played an active role in advancing cultural cooperation within BRICS. The Ministry of Culture hosted the BRICS meetings of Culture Ministers under the Indian chairmanship in Goa in 2016 and New Delhi in 2021, and is again playing a leading role in this strategic role in 2026.The BRICS Culture Working Group, which derives its mandate from the Agreement between the Governments of BRICS member states on cooperation in the field of culture signed in 2015, has over the years expanded cooperation in cultural heritage, creative industries, films, museums, archives and digital cultural ecosystems.BRICS brings together Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia as full members, with 10 partner countries joining in 2025. The Group represents a platform for multilateral cooperation across the political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people pillars, collectively advancing a more inclusive and equitable international order.