Kash

Increasingly erratic weather patterns due to climate change mean people are losing homes, crops and livestockAs rain lashed the Pir Panjal mountains before dawn on 19 July, Haji Mohammad Latief stepped outside his home in Murrah, a remote mountain village in Indian-administered Kashmir. His daughter had asked him to move the family’s car to a safer place as the rain got heavier.“I had only just parked it,” Latief recalled. “When I turned around, I saw the water coming.” Minutes later, a cloudburst sent mud, boulders and water crashing down the hillside. Continue reading...

• Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the recent local elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as a "complete farce" during a biweekly press briefing in New Delhi. • Jaiswal asserted that the electoral process is a facade, claiming the actual situation on the ground is characterized by widespread public protests. • The MEA highlighted the severity of the crisis by alleging that Pakistani forces are engaging in "wanton killings" of civilians in the region.

• Deadly protests have erupted in Pakistan-administered Kashmir over the allocation of 12 refugee seats, leading to calls for election boycotts and staggered voting. • The Jammu and Kashmir Awareness Campaign (JAAC) claims these seats allow external political parties to influence the local government and divert essential development funds. • On June 5, authorities designated the JAAC as a "proscribed organisation" and implemented a region-wide internet and mobile service blackout lasting until June 20.

• In 2026, a new wave of emerging talent, including Akash Makhija, Prasanna Bisht, and Samara Tijori, has successfully broken through on Over-the-Top (OTT) streaming platforms. • These younger actors are finding success across various genres, marking a shift in the digital landscape even as established superstars continue to migrate to streaming services. • This trend highlights a growing industry openness to fresh faces, diversifying the talent pool available for high-quality web series production.

• Protests have erupted in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) over a three-phase election process, which the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has dismissed as a "cosmetic exercise." • The unrest highlights growing instability and a perceived failure in Pakistan's Kashmir policy, as local populations demand genuine political rights. • The situation underscores the contradiction between Pakistan's claim that the region is "Azad" (free) and the reality of its strict control and manipulation.

• Two migrant workers were killed in a terror attack in Kashmir, marking another surge in regional violence. • MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged the international community to hold Islamabad accountable for the "ruthless" use of force against peaceful protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). • These clashes are occurring amidst ongoing elections for 45 contesting seats in the PoK legislative assembly.

• Deadly clashes erupted on Monday during regional elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, resulting in widespread violence. • Official reports state one security personnel member was killed and five others were injured, while leaders of a banned Kashmiri group claim the death toll exceeds 30. • The violence highlights the volatile political climate and ongoing instability surrounding the electoral process in the disputed region.

Local civil rights group alleges authorities removed evidence of killings amid communications blackoutAt least 30 people are alleged to have been killed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in the past two days as part of what has been claimed is a brutal state crackdown that has engulfed the disputed region for weeks.According to a local civil society group, Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), the Pakistani security services fired on tens of thousands of peaceful protesters, killing 25 people on Monday and five more on Tuesday. Continue reading...

• UN human rights chief Volker Türk has issued an urgent appeal for calm in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir following unrest preceding regional elections. • The situation is occurring alongside a broader global trend of displacement driven by the war in Ukraine and unresolved regional conflicts. • Environmental factors, including extreme heat, droughts, and floods, are further exacerbating the movement of people and instability.

Documents show the FBI director’s gift was ‘displayed proudly’ by the AFP before new commissioner ordered it be destroyedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWhen the FBI director, Kash Patel, visited the Australian federal police last year, he came bearing a gift: a 3D-printed imitation pistol that then was “displayed proudly” in the commissioner’s office.Yet within months, shortly after Krissy Barrett became the AFP’s new commissioner last October, she ordered it to be destroyed. Continue reading...

Report says new film has finished filming – although title and release date not yet confirmedTwenty-four years after Staines’s foremost political interlocutor was last seen on the big screen in Ali G Indahouse, Ali G is set to return to cinemas.As reported by The InSneider, a new movie has wrapped production, with filming locations including Oxfordshire, where Baron Cohen was spotted in character last summer, and in the US. A title and release date have not been confirmed and representatives for the star declined to comment. Continue reading...

FBI veterans believe director may have flouted legal rules by prematurely divulging details of UFC attack plot inquiryKash Patel may have flouted legal constraints and the FBI’s disciplinary code in prematurely divulging arrests in an alleged plot to attack this month’s Ultimate Fighting Championship bout at the White House, bureau veterans have alleged. Continue reading...

Congressman Jamie Raskin alleges FBI director authorized substantial recurring payments to agents in his inner circleFBI director Kash Patel has been accused of directing more than $1m in taxpayer-funded bonus payments to a small circle of loyalist agents as part of a “personal slush fund” that may have violated federal law.Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the ranking member of the House of Representatives judiciary committee, alleged Patel had authorized substantial recurring payments to agents in his inner circle and security detail. Continue reading...

FBI director reportedly took a snorkel excursion at site containing remains of more than 1,000 navy sailors and marinesThe FBI director, Kash Patel, is facing new scrutiny following reports that he participated in a snorkeling excursion around the USS Arizona during a trip to Hawaii last summer.The outing was first reported this week by the Associated Press, which obtained government emails describing the excursion as a “VIP snorkel” around the USS Arizona – the site that holds the remains of more than 1,000 US navy sailors and marines who died at Pearl Harbor in 1941. Continue reading...

• FBI Director Kash Patel denied drinking allegations raised during a Senate budget hearing, addressing questions about his conduct while leading the federal law enforcement agency. • The testimony occurred as the Senate reviewed FBI budget appropriations and operational oversight priorities for the fiscal year. • Patel's public defense signals the continuation of scrutiny regarding leadership practices at the Bureau during a period of significant policy transitions.

FBI director also dismisses allegations of unexplained absences as Democrats challenge him over Atlantic reportUS politics live – latest updatesEmbattled FBI director Kash Patel has denied under oath allegations of excessive drinking and unexplained absences on the job, dismissing them as “baseless” during a fiery congressional hearing.Patel sought to push back as Democrats challenged him over the “extremely alarming” reports, which ran in the Atlantic, which they argued would a mount to a “gross dereliction” of duty. Continue reading...

Agency says FBI director ‘followed all applicable ethical guidelines’ in giving out personalized bourbon bottlesThe FBI said that agency director Kash Patel “followed all applicable ethical guidelines” after a report in the Atlantic alleged that he distributed customized bourbon whiskey bottles as gifts.In an article published on Wednesday, the Atlantic described Patel as travelling with a stock of “personalized branded bourbon” that he allegedly hands out frequently to people around him. Continue reading...

• Indian and Pakistani military forces have engaged in heavy artillery exchanges along the Line of Control in Kashmir, with reports of at least 18 soldiers killed and dozens wounded in the most serious escalation in six months. • Pakistan's military spokesperson claimed Indian forces initiated the bombardment Friday morning; India stated Pakistani positions fired first, creating conflicting narratives about the incident's origins. • The US has urged both nations to exercise restraint and resume diplomatic channels; UN Security Council members are monitoring the situation amid concerns about potential nuclear escalation.

Inquiry began in March after report on security arrangements involving FBI director’s girlfriend, NYT saysSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe FBI began investigating a New York Times reporter after the newspaper published a story raising concerns about the security arrangements surrounding the girlfriend of Kash Patel, the FBI director, the Times has reported.According to reporting from the Times on Wednesday, the inquiry into Elizabeth Williamson, the reporter, began in March following an article she reported alleging that Patel used FBI resources to provide protection and transportation for his girlfriend, country singer, Alexis Wilkins. Continue reading...

Amid growing congressional scrutiny of his conduct, Patel has claimed he has ‘never been intoxicated on the job’US politics live – latest updatesHouse judiciary Democrats have launched a formal inquiry into FBI director, Kash Patel’s alleged drinking habits, demanding he complete a standardized alcohol abuse assessment and submit the results to Congress.In a letter sent on Tuesday, led by Jamie Raskin, a Maryland representative, Democrats on the committee called on Patel to take the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (Audit) – a 10-question World Health Organization screening tool used to identify harmful patterns of drinking – along with a sworn statement attesting to his answers. Lawmakers also requested all security clearance questionnaires Patel has completed since taking the role. Continue reading...

Magazine has stood behind the story, which was written by veteran national security reporter Sarah FitzpatrickKash Patel has followed through on a threat to sue the Atlantic and the author of a story the magazine published that included allegations of “excessive drinking” as well as “conspicuous inebriation and unexplained absences” while in charge of the law enforcement agency.The US attorney general filed a defamation lawsuit in US district court for the District of Columbia that seeks $250m in damages. Continue reading...

• Artillery and small arms fire erupted along the Line of Control in Kashmir on April 17-18, marking the first significant border clash in eight months and resulting in at least 12 reported casualties on both sides. • Pakistan accused Indian forces of violating a 2003 ceasefire agreement with unprovoked shelling near the Siachen Glacier region; India's military claimed Pakistan-based militants initiated the exchange. • Both nations mobilized additional military units to their shared border; analysts warn the escalation could undermine fragile diplomatic channels reopened in late 2025.

• Pakistani military conducted airstrikes on alleged militant camps in Kashmir-administered territory on April 6, claiming to target terrorist training facilities; India responded with counter-strikes, marking the most significant escalation in months. • Both nations reported military casualties and damaged infrastructure; Pakistan claimed two Indian jets were damaged, while India denied losses and accused Pakistan of unprovoked aggression. • International observers including the US and UN called for de-escalation and urged both countries to exercise restraint; diplomatic channels remain active but tensions are at their highest since late 2025.

• Following April 1 shelling that killed 12 Indian soldiers and 8 Pakistani troops, US-mediated talks led to a 72-hour ceasefire along the Line of Control. • Details include troop pullbacks by 2 km and no-fly zone for drones, verified by US satellites. • The de-escalation prevents nuclear escalation fears, with markets in Mumbai and Karachi rising 1.8%.

• Iran-linked hackers posted private messages and photographs belonging to FBI Director Kash Patel in what appears to be a cyber retaliation operation amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions. • The breach represents a significant security incident targeting senior U.S. intelligence leadership during heightened Middle East conflict. • The incident underscores growing cyber threats and Iranian capabilities to penetrate U.S. government security systems.

• Intelligence officials testified before Congress on March 18 regarding Iran war threats and national security, with National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard deflecting questions about pre-war intelligence she offered Trump, while facing Democratic accusations of misusing national security powers for domestic political interference. • FBI Director Kash Patel made his first Capitol Hill appearance since a viral video showed him celebrating with the U.S. men's hockey team at the Winter Olympics; Patel has fired dozens of FBI agents in his first year, raising concerns about loss of national security expertise during elevated terrorism threats. • Multiple terrorism-related incidents occurred this month, including a gunman inspired by Iranian ideology killing two at a Texas bar, suspects arrested for explosives near New York City, a shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia, and a car attack on a Michigan synagogue.

Admission came during questioning at Senate intelligence committee worldwide threats hearingThe Federal Bureau of Investigation has started buying location data on Americans, FBI director Kash Patel said under oath at the Senate intelligence committee worldwide threats hearing on Wednesday.Patel’s admission came in response to a question from the senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat who is a longtime opponent of the warrantless surveillance of Americans. Wyden told Patel that his predecessor, Christopher Wray, testified in 2023 that the FBI did not at that time purchase location data derived from internet advertising, although he acknowledged that it had done so in the past. Continue reading...