16/08/2025

SATURDAY | AUG 16, 2025

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Floods, landslides kill 60 in Kashmir SRINAGAR: At least 60 people have died and more than 100 are missing, a day after sudden, heavy rain caused floods and landslides in Kashmir, authorities and media said yesterday, the second such disaster in the Himalayas in a little over a week.

“We were told that another 100-150 people might be buried under the debris,” said one rescue worker. The Machail Yatra is a popular pilgrimage to the Himalayan shrine of Machail Mata, one of the manifestations of Goddess Durga, and pilgrims trek to the temple from Chasoti, where the road for vehicles ends. Thursday’s incident comes a little over a week after a flood engulfed a village in the state of Uttarakhand. – Reuters

“We heard a huge sound and it was followed by a flash flood and slush. People were shouting, and some of them fell in the Chenab River. Others were buried under the debris,” said Rakesh Sharma, a pilgrim who was injured. Bags, clothes and other belongings, caked in mud, lay scattered amid broken electric poles and mud on Friday, as rescue workers used shovels, ropes and crossed makeshift bridges in an attempt to extricate people out of the debris.

Mudslides and floodwaters inundated the village of Chasoti in Kashmir on Thursday, washing away pilgrims who had gathered for lunch before trekking up the hill for a popular pilgrimage site.

What is left of Chasoti after the floods and mudslides. – REUTERSPIC

Modi vows to protect farmers, pushes self-reliance

JAKARTA: Indonesia will launch a broader crackdown on the illegal exploitation of natural resources after a survey found that oil palm plantations on 3.7 million hectares were operating in violation of the law, President Prabowo Subianto said yesterday. He said 5 million hectares have been under scrutiny for operating in protected forest areas, not reporting their actual size, or not responding to summonses from auditors. He made the comments in his first state of the nation speech, delivered as the country celebrates 80 years of independence this weekend. “We will ensure that the people will not fall victim to greedy economics,” Prabowo, speaking in parliament, said, adding that the government had already seized 3.1 million hectares of illegal plantations with the help of the military. “We have used the military to accompany the teams that took over the plantations because there often is resistance.” In his speech, Prabowo, a former special forces commander known for his aggressive operational tactics, also warned that the state could confiscate assets of companies that “manipulate and violate” Indonesia’s laws. He said his government was also planning a crackdown on mining, adding that authorities had received reports of as many as 1,063 illegal operations throughout the vast, mineral-rich archipelago. He did not specify what type of mines or the commodities they were extracting. Indonesian Palm Oil Association chief Eddy Martono questioned the source of Prabowo’s figures and said his organisation had not been consulted on the 5 million hectares number. On the 3.7 million hectares of plantations found to be operating unlawfully, he said companies and cooperatives running them had been asked to clarify their status and some had permits such as land-use concessions and ownership certificates. “It will create a negative image internationally, suggesting that Indonesian palm oil is encroaching on forests,” he said. – Reuters exploitation of resources Indonesia to crack down on illegal

between the two nations. The new import tax will raise duties on some Indian exports to as high as 50% – among the highest levied on any US trading partner. Modi has never spoken about the tariffs directly, only alluding to them in a speech last week, where he swore to protect the interests of farmers, even if it came at a personal price. Although local manufacturing and self-reliance have been Modi’s key focus areas for years now, the push is seen to have gained urgency amid global trade tensions and supply chain disruptions. “The need of the hour is to take a resolve for building a strong India ... I want our traders, shopkeepers to display boards for ‘Swadeshi’ products,” Modi said, using the Hindi word for made in India goods. He said made in India semiconductor chips would hit the market by the end of this year and that India was pushing for self reliance in producing critical minerals with exploration under way at more than 1,200 locations. Trump’s tariffs threaten to disrupt India’s access to its largest export market, where shipments totalled nearly US$87 billion (RM367 billion) last year, hitting sectors like textiles, footwear, gems and jewellery. In retaliation, some supporters of Modi have sought to stoke anti American sentiment and called for a boycott of US companies such as McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Amazon and Apple. Trade talks between New Delhi and Washington collapsed after five rounds of negotiations over disagreement on opening India’s vast farm and dairy sectors and stopping Russian oil purchases. – Reuters standard of healthcare in prison, but whether imprisonment would create heightened risks to his life. “I am satisfied that the circumstances in this case are exceptional and meet the high threshold for the grant of judicial mercy.” Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months in prison last October, the first time a former Cabinet member had been jailed in Singapore. – Reuters

are our top priorities,” Modi said in his address from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi. “Modi will stand like a wall against any policy that threatens their interests. India will never compromise when it comes to protecting the interests of our farmers,” he said. Modi did not mention the tariffs or the US in his speech that lasted nearly two hours. Last week, Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian oil in a move that sharply escalated tensions

o Promote local products, traders told

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the country yesterday to move towards more self reliance, manufacture everything from fertilisers to jet engines and EV batteries, and vowed to protect farmers in the face of a trade conflict with Washington. With the punishing tariffs imposed on Indian exports by US President Donald Trump expected to hurt growth in the world’s fastest

growing major economy, Modi announced lower goods and services taxes from October – a move that could help boost consumption. Modi was addressing the nation on the occasion of its Independence Day at a time New Delhi has been struggling with Trump’s tariffs and the collapse of trade talks, largely due to differences over imports of American farm and dairy products. “Farmers, fishermen, cattle rearers

Modi inspects an honour guard at the historic Red Fort in Delhi. – REUTERSPIC

Singapore property tycoon fined S$30,000 SINGAPORE: Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng was fined S$30,000 (RM98,619) by a court here yesterday as part of a landmark case that led to the jailing of former transport minister S. Iswaran last year. race, English Premier League soccer matches and West End musicals. Ong last week pleaded guilty to one charge of abetting the obstruction of justice after arranging to bill Iswaran for a flight ticket months after it had taken place.

months’ jail, stepped down as managing director of HPL in April. At last week’s hearing, the prosecution and defence agreed that because Ong was in poor health with advanced cancer he could be granted judicial mercy, which meant the court could impose a more lenient than normal punishment. In a written judgment, District Judge Lee Lit Cheng wrote: “The critical question is not whether an offender may receive a lower

Ong, the 79-year-old founder of Hotel Properties Ltd and rights holder to the Singapore Grand Prix, was accused of giving Iswaran, who was an adviser to the Grand Prix’s steering committee, high-value gifts including tickets to the Formula One

A second charge of abetting an offence was also taken into consideration by the court. The S$30,000 was the maximum fine the court could impose. Ong, who was given a fine in lieu of three