PULWAMA
From a village in Pulwama with no indoor stadium to the international MMA arena, Owais Yaqoob, 22, has emerged as Jammu and Kashmir’s first mixed martial arts fighter to represent India on the global stage. Riding a five-fight winning streak, he defeated Bulgaria’s Delyan Georgiev at BRAVE CF 107 on August 1. Owais began his martial arts journey with Thang-Ta before mastering Taekwondo, Karate, wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, eventually earning a contract with Matrix Fight Night. His rise came despite severe financial hardship after his father’s illness, forcing him to work as a medical representative, gym trainer, caterer and apple picker to fund his training. Having later trained with former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team, Owais says representing India remains his greatest motivation.
1178.58 hectares of forest land in Jammu and Kashmir were diverted for non-forestry activities between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2026.
SRINAGAR
A pair of Kashmir innovators have unveiled what they describe as India’s first tri-hybrid three-wheeler scooter, combining solar power, electricity and petrol to offer a cleaner alternative to conventional vehicles. Named SHE (Solar Hybrid Electric), the scooter has been developed by Bilal Ahmad Mir and Binish Gulzar under their company, Bilal’s Innovative Solar Automobile (BISA). Powered by Mir’s patented REES (Range Elevated Electric Scooter) technology, the vehicle uses solar energy to charge its battery while automatically switching to a petrol engine to recharge the system when sunlight is unavailable, reducing dependence on charging stations. The scooter also integrates Automotive Internet of Things (IoT) technology for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.
Designed for both regular riders and persons with disabilities, SHE features an electrically adjustable detachable seat and can carry up to 200 kilograms of cargo, making it suitable for delivery workers. The launch marks another milestone for Mir, who has spent over 15 years developing solar mobility solutions and is also preparing to commercially launch his solar-powered car, RAY, later this year. Binish said the scooter reflects BISA’s broader vision of building practical, clean-energy mobility solutions for India.
The International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir has attracted 875 film entries from nearly 50 countries
JAMMU KASHMIR
JK Bank reported a 12.6 per cent decline in June-quarter net profit to Rs 424.18 crore, but crossed the Rs 3 lakh crore total business mark for the first time, driven by strong credit and deposit growth. Advances rose 25 per cent to Rs 1.31 lakh crore and deposits increased 17 per cent to Rs 1.73 lakh crore. Operating profit grew 4.5 per cent, while asset quality improved, with gross NPAs falling to 2.37 per cent and net NPAs to 0.60 per cent. The capital adequacy ratio strengthened to 16.67 per cent. However, margin pressure from higher funding costs triggered a 13 per cent fall in the bank’s share price. Despite improving a lot in last more than a year, the bank is facing too much of music from non-native media as a result of which its stocks are taking an impact. Many think it might be driven by people who wish to have cheap stock share.
Jammu and Kashmir has fixed a uniform building permission fee of Rs 80 per sq m for residential, Rs 150 for mixed-use and Rs 270 for commercial and industrial buildings across all urban local bodies and development authorities.
BARAMULLA
Two men have been arrested in Baramulla after a 21-year-old woman alleged that they gangraped her in a forested area of Dragbal in north Kashmir earlier this month. The complaint, filed on July 25, states that the accused assaulted the woman and her friend during an outing, chased the man away after beating him, and then raped the woman. Police said the crime was allegedly recorded on a mobile phone, which has since been recovered. The accused, identified as Shakir Ahmad Lone and Mohammad Ashraf Dar, have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and further investigation is underway.
JAMMU KASHMIR
Amid continuing controversy over demolitions on forest land, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has directed all Deputy Commissioners to expedite the verification and settlement of claims under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, while reiterating that no eligible forest dweller can be evicted until the statutory recognition process is completed. The Tribal Affairs Department has asked district administrations to process claims through the mandatory three-tier mechanism involving the Gram Sabha or Ward Committee, the Sub-Divisional Level Committee and the District Level Committee, and submit completion certificates where the exercise has already been carried out. The circular also clarifies that the Act applies to municipal and urban areas, with Ward Committees performing the role of Gram Sabhas. The directive comes months after demolition drives on alleged forest encroachments in parts of Jammu triggered allegations of violations of the Forest Rights Act and prompted the government to order a fact-finding inquiry into the evictions.
LADAKH
The mystery of the Old Lady Spider Cave in western Ladakh, long wrapped in folklore about a monstrous creature slain by the Tibetan hero Kesar, has yielded an extraordinary scientific discovery. A genome-wide ancient DNA study has revealed that the people buried there belonged to a remarkably homogeneous community formed through nearly equal genetic contributions from ancient Tibetan and South Asian populations, pushing back evidence of sustained interaction across the western Himalayas to around 2,800 years ago.
Published in Science Advances, the study analysed the remains of ten individuals excavated from the cave, known locally as Abi Srinjamo Bao, above Yogma Kharbu village. Radiocarbon dating places the burials at around 1,500 years ago, but DNA analysis shows the ancestral mixing that created this population began roughly 800 BCE—more than a millennium before the rise of the Tibetan Empire. Researchers found that the community derived almost half its ancestry from a population genetically similar to present-day Dogras and North Indian Brahmins, and the other half from ancient Tibetans, while cautioning that these are genetic proxies rather than cultural identities.
The findings provide the earliest direct biological evidence of long-suspected exchanges linking Tibet, Kashmir, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. They also suggest that traces of this ancient Himalayan population survive in present-day Minero and Balti communities, offering a rare glimpse into the deep human history of one of Asia’s most important mountain crossroads.
KERALA
A farmer in Kerala has achieved a significant breakthrough in indoor saffron cultivation by successfully producing high-quality saffron planting material under controlled climatic conditions, a feat long considered one of the biggest challenges in commercial saffron farming. James Kappani, from Thrissur, multiplied 110 kg of saffron corms into 320 kg of premium planting stock within three months by recreating Kashmir’s seasonal climate in a 150-square-foot automated indoor facility. Using advanced temperature controls, soil management and irrigation, he produced healthy corms suitable for high-yield saffron cultivation. The achievement builds on his earlier success in harvesting saffron indoors and suggests that controlled-environment agriculture can now support not only saffron flowering but also propagation of planting material, reducing dependence on Kashmir-grown corms. While the development highlights the growing role of technology in high-value agriculture, Kashmir’s unique soil, altitude and climate continue to define the distinctive quality of its world-famous saffron.
SRINAGAR
The ongoing conflict involving Iran has sparked an unexpected surge in interest in Iranian political and religious literature at the just concluded Chinar Book Festival in Srinagar. Among the biggest attractions was Cell No 14, the prison memoir of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Organisers said the festival has been drawing up to 20,000 visitors a day, while local clerics and readers have amplified interest through social media. Publishers say the readership extends beyond the Shia community, with students, academics and professionals seeking to better understand Iran’s political evolution and contemporary history through its leading figures’ writings.
DRASS
During his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh ruled out any dialogue with Pakistan, saying that if talks were ever held, they would be confined to PoK, which he described as an integral part of India under illegal occupation. Addressing the Kargil Vijay Diwas commemoration at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras, Singh warned Pakistan against any “misadventure”, asserting that India would respond with the same resolve demonstrated during Operation Sindoor. He accused Pakistan of pursuing terrorism as state policy and said India would no longer distinguish between terrorists and those who shelter and support them.
DELHI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spotlighted Kashmir’s traditional Wagoov reed mat craft, praising a Srinagar father-daughter duo for reviving the fading heritage. In his Mann Ki Baat programme, Modi commended Ghulam Hussain and his daughter Tanzila for breathing new life into the centuries-old craft despite numerous challenges. He described Wagoov, woven from reed and paddy straw, as an eco-friendly product that naturally keeps homes cool in summer and warm in winter. Calling for greater support to local artisans under the Vocal for Local campaign, Modi said the family’s efforts had helped the craft find markets beyond Jammu and Kashmir.
BUDGAM
The killing of Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi in a militant attack in Anantnag has triggered one of the biggest security crackdowns in Kashmir in recent years, with police detaining nearly 2,000 suspected overground workers, former militants and other persons for questioning across the Valley. As security forces intensified intelligence-led operations, Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the slain policeman’s family, conveyed his condolences and assured them of the Centre’s full support. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also visited the bereaved family and promised assistance, including support until Qureshi’s son becomes eligible for a government job. The attack has prompted high-level security reviews and intensified anti-terror operations, even as several political leaders questioned the scale of the preventive detentions.
PAMPORE
ASCEND J&K 2026 concluded with a funding boost for Kashmir’s startup ecosystem, as two Srinagar-based ventures secured investment commitments and seven others advanced to the due diligence stage. During the two-day summit, 20 startups pitched before 14 investors and investment networks, resulting in funding commitments of up to Rs 1 crore. EcoBuddy, a waste management and sustainable packaging startup, received an investment commitment of Rs 75 lakh to Rs 1 crore from LetsVenture, while electric mobility startup Curve Electric secured funding support from Build3 Accelerator and angel investor Komal Nailwal. Organised by JKEDI, the summit underscored growing investor confidence in J&K’s startups and created fresh opportunities for funding, mentorship and strategic partnerships.
