India's Supreme Court Upholds Abrogation of Article 370, Sets Stage for Kashmir Elections

India's Supreme Court has upheld the government's decision to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, setting a deadline for local elections to be held by September 30 next year. The unanimous decision by a panel of five judges follows multiple petitions challenging the revocation and the subsequent division of the region into two federally administered territories. The ruling paves the way for elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which has been a source of tension between India and Pakistan for over 75 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the judgment as a "beacon of hope," while political parties in Kashmir expressed disappointment.