The Ladakh Power Development Department has ordered the conversion of all Government department electricity connections with smart meters from postpaid to prepaid mode with effect from February 1, 2026.
Punjab: Teenager Apprehended For Sharing Information With Pakistani Handlers
A 15-year-old boy has been apprehended in Punjab’s Pathankot for allegedly sharing information about sensitive locations with Pakistani handlers, police said on Tuesday According to police, the boy was radicalised on a social media platform.
Police had received information that the boy was in contact with and was providing information concerning the country’s security to Pakistan military officers, ISI and frontal organisations running terror modules in that country, Pathankot Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Daljinder Singh Dhillon said.
On the basis of this information, the boy was apprehended on Monday and questioned, the SSP told reporters in Pathankot.
The SSP said the boy had lost his father, who resided in J-K, over an year back and suspected that he was murdered.
Police investigations did not find that the boy’s father was murdered but the boy suspected so and it affected his psyche, the SSP said.
The boy visited many social media platforms and during this he fell in the trap of the Pakistani agencies and was in touch with them for the past one year, he said.
The Pakistani agents had created a clone of the boy’s mobile phone, Dhillon said.
Describing the boy as tech-savvy, the SSP said Pakistani agencies and handlers had started taking information from his mobile phone through cloning.
He had done videography of some important locations and taken information. Possibly if his phone was hacked that information could have even gone live, SSP said.
He was also in touch with gangsters running terror module, he said.
“Had we not apprehended him, in future he could have carried out any kind of activity,” he said. (Agencies)
Another Example Of Honesty And Integrity From Kashmir: Pahalgam Cab Driver Returns Bag With Cash And Valuables To Lady Tourist
In yet another example of honesty and integrity that the people of Kashmir are known for, a cab driver in Pahalgam in South Kashmir set a remarkable example by returning a bag containing cash, an iPhone, and other valuables to a visiting tourist.
According to details available, the tourist had inadvertently left the bag inside the cab after completing the journey in Pahalgam. The bag reportedly contained a substantial amount of cash, an iPhone, and important personal belongings. Upon noticing the unattended bag, the cab driver made efforts to trace the owner instead of keeping the valuables.
After confirming the identity of the tourist, the driver returned the bag intact, drawing appreciation from the visitor and locals alike. The tourist expressed gratitude for the honesty shown, stating that such a gesture is rare and reflects the deep rooted values of trust and integrity prevalent among the inhabitants of Kashmir.
Incidents like these continue to reinforce the long standing reputation of Kashmir’s people for honesty and ethical conduct. Despite facing challenging circumstances over the years, such acts repeatedly highlight the strong moral fabric of society in the region and leave a lasting impression on visitors.
Locals said that such gestures are not isolated incidents and that similar examples of honesty are frequently witnessed across Kashmir, especially in interactions involving tourists. (KNT)
Cold Conditions Return To Kashmir With Light Snowfall In Higher Reaches
Light snowfall was recorded in a few areas in the higher reaches of Kashmir, causing night temperatures to drop and bringing back cold conditions to the region, officials said on Tuesday.
Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district was the coldest place in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday night with a minimum temperature of minus 8.6 degrees Celsius, they said.
Under the influence of a feeble western disturbance, there was light snowfall in a few areas in the higher reaches of Kashmir, including the Mughal Road and the upper areas of Ganderbal, on Monday night, the officials said.
They said the minimum temperatures at most places in Kashmir dipped last night.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 4 degrees Celsius, a slight drop from minus 3.6 degrees Celsius on Sunday night.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2 degrees Celsius and Kupwara minus 3.1 degrees Celsius.
The region is currently in the midst of ‘Chilla-e-Kalan’, a 40-day period of extreme cold, during which night temperatures often drop several degrees below the freezing point and chances of snowfall are the highest.
The plains of the valley have not received any snowfall so far this season.
The India Meteorological Department has said there is a possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches of north and central Kashmir during the day.
After that, the weather is likely to remain dry but cloudy till January 20.
CM Omar Abdullah Inaugurates Two-Week Ski Training Course In Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday inaugurated a 14-day integrated ski training course at world-famous tourist destinations in the Kashmir valley.
He said that 500-600 students in the 12-18 age group will be provided certified skiing training this year while also promoting winter tourism in these destinations.
Some popular skiing locations in the valley include Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Doodhpathri.
The Integrated Ski Training Course will offers comprehensive and affordable programmes for learning skiing, focusing on foundational skills such as gliding, snow ploughing and turns.
“Chief Minister today virtually inaugurated the 14-day Integrated Ski Training Course covering Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Doodhpathri, aimed at placing these destinations firmly on the skiing map,” the Office of the Chief Minister, J-K, said on X.
Meanwhile, Abdullah also released the official calendars of the Tourism Department and the J-K Cable Car Corporation.
The calendars feature stunning photographs of destinations across both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions, highlight key achievements and aim to boost tourism promotion.
The calendars showcase breathtaking landscapes, cultural heritage and tourist treasures of Jammu and Kashmir.
Israel Strikes Multiple Sites In Lebanon Ahead Of Key Disarmament Meeting
Israel’s air force struck areas in southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday and early Tuesday, including in the country’s third-largest city.
A strike around 1 a.m. Tuesday leveled a three-story commercial building in the southern coastal city of Sidon, a few days before Lebanon’s army commander is scheduled to brief the government on its mission of disarming militant group Hezbollah in areas along the border with Israel.
An Associated Press photographer at the scene said the area was in a commercial district containing workshops and mechanic shops and the building was uninhabited.
At least one person was transported by ambulance and rescue teams were searching the site for others, but there were no immediate reports of deaths.
On Monday, the Israeli army hit several sites in southern and eastern Lebanon saying they held infrastructure for the militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas.
Those strikes took place nearly two hours after Israel’s military Arabic language spokesman Avichay Adraee posted warnings on X that the military would strike targets for Hezbollah and the Palestinian Hamas groups in two villages in the eastern Bekaa Valley and two others in southern Lebanon. The later strike in Sidon was unannounced and the Israeli army did not immediately issue a statement on it.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said a home struck in the village of Manara in the Bekaa Valley belonged to Sharhabil al-Sayed, a Hamas military commander who was killed in an Israeli drone strike in May 2024.
The areas were evacuated after the Israeli warning and there were no reports of casualties in those strikes. Earlier Monday, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said a drone strike on a car in the southern village of Braikeh earlier Monday wounded two people. The Israeli military said the strike targeted two Hezbollah members.
The Lebanese army last year began the disarmament process of Palestinian groups while the government has said that by the end of 2025 all the areas close to the border with Israel — known as the south Litani area — will be clear of Hezbollah’s armed presence.
The Lebanese government is scheduled to discuss Hezbollah’s disarmament during a meeting Thursday that will be attended by army commander Gen. Rudolph Haikal.
Monday’s airstrikes were in villages north of the Litani river and far from the border with Israel.
The disarmament of Hezbollah and other Palestinian groups by the Lebanese government came after a 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah in which much of the political and military leadership of the Iran-backed group was killed.
The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel, when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas. Israel launched a widespread bombardment of Lebanon in September 2024 that severely weakened Hezbollah, followed by a ground invasion.
The war ended in November 2024 with a ceasefire brokered by the U.S.
Israel has carried out almost daily airstrikes since then, mainly targeting Hezbollah members but also killing at least 127 civilians, according to the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. (AP)
TR Biz Solutions Offers Integrated Digital and Legal Services for Businesses
Jammu, January 5:
TR Biz Solutions, a digital-first business consulting firm, has formally announced its launch with the objective of providing comprehensive digital, legal, and compliance services to startups, MSMEs, professionals, and non-profit organisations across India.
Headquartered at 3rd Floor, KC Plaza, Residency Road, Jammu, TR Biz Solutions has been conceptualised as a single-window solution for businesses seeking both digital growth and statutory compliance. The firm combines technology-driven services with professional legal advisory to address the evolving needs of modern enterprises.
The service portfolio of TR Biz Solutions includes website design and development, digital marketing, branding, and graphic design. Alongside digital services, the firm offers business and legal support such as company registration, trademark registration, and NGO registration.
Special emphasis has been laid on advisory services for the social sector. TR Biz Solutions provides structured support for NGO formation through Section 8 Companies, Societies, and Trusts, along with post-registration compliance services including 12A and 80G registrations.
According to the management, the firm was launched to bridge the gap between digital services and legal compliance, which are often handled separately by businesses. “Entrepreneurs and organisations require reliable, transparent, and professionally managed services. TR Biz Solutions aims to simplify this journey by offering integrated solutions under one platform,” the management stated.
Operating as a digital-first brand, TR Biz Solutions caters to clients on a PAN India basis, ensuring timely delivery, regulatory adherence, and scalable solutions. The firm plans to expand its offerings while maintaining a strong focus on governance, professionalism, and client trust.
For inquiries and consultation, TR Biz Solutions can be contacted at 8899208382.
Suspended BRS MLC K Kavitha Alleges Corruption, Calls Party Constitution a ‘Joke’
Suspended BRS MLC K Kavitha on Monday launched a scathing attack on her father K Chandrasekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), alleging corruption during the previous party regime in Telangana and describing the BRS Constitution as a “joke.”
Speaking emotionally in the Legislative Council, Kavitha said she was not part of several unpopular decisions taken during the BRS rule. She also urged Council Chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy to accept her resignation from the MLC post, which she had submitted soon after her suspension from the party in September last year.
Recalling her suspension, Kavitha alleged that the party’s Disciplinary Action Committee was constituted overnight and that no proper procedures, such as issuing a show-cause notice, were followed.
“They cited a Disciplinary Action Committee. The Constitution of BRS, which wants to work at the national level, is an eight-page Constitution. I am saying courageously today — the Constitution of the BRS party is a joke,” she said, adding that such actions were “definitely not the way to run a party.”
Kavitha also accused the BRS regime of corruption in the construction of major infrastructure projects, including district Collectorate buildings, pointing out that the Collectorates in Siddipet and Siricilla were flooded following heavy rains soon after their completion.
“From Amar Jyoti, Ambedkar statue, Secretariat to Collectorates, it is true that corruption took place. The biggest example is the two Collectorates which were flooded when the first rain occurred after their construction,” she said. The Amar Jyoti memorial, giant Ambedkar statue, new Secretariat complex, and new district Collector offices were all constructed during the BRS government.
Kavitha said her resignation as MLC, submitted on September 3, has not yet been accepted, and she had sought time to explain the reasons behind it.
Earlier, speaking in Suryapet, she criticised the BRS for boycotting the ongoing winter session of the Telangana Assembly, alleging that the move would help the ruling Congress. She questioned whether the boycott decision was taken by her cousin and BRS MLA T Harish Rao personally or by the party high command, warning that abandoning House debates was a “serious political mistake.”
Kavitha was suspended from the BRS in September 2025 after accusing her cousins and senior party leaders T Harish Rao and J Santosh Kumar of “tarnishing” her father KCR’s image over the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project.
Since her suspension, she has been addressing public issues under the banner of Telangana Jagruti, a cultural organisation she heads. On December 12, Kavitha declared that she would one day become Chief Minister and order probes into alleged injustices and irregularities committed since the formation of Telangana in 2014.
No Decision Yet on Participation of Bangladeshi Golfers in PGTI: Kapil Dev
Cricket legend and President of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) Kapil Dev on Monday said no decision has been taken yet on whether Bangladeshi players will be allowed to compete on the PGTI Tour.
His remarks come in the wake of the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) decision not to send its national cricket team to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing security concerns and government advice. The situation followed the release of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders on the BCCI’s instruction.
When asked about the possible exclusion of Bangladeshi golfers from the PGTI Tour, Kapil said the matter is yet to be discussed. “We’ll sit down and talk about the recent issue. We haven’t taken any decision on it yet,” he said.
Several prominent golfers from Bangladesh, including Jamal Hossain, Md Siddikur Rahman and Md Akbar Hossain, currently compete on the PGTI circuit. Kapil, however, declined to comment on the BCB’s reported move to approach the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the issue.
The former India captain was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of one of the franchises of ‘72 The League’, a new franchise-based golf league conceptualised by the PGTI. The league aims to introduce a team format in a sport traditionally dominated by individual competition.
Kapil said India needs to explore team-based structures in golf to accelerate the sport’s growth, drawing parallels with cricket’s transformation following the advent of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
“I played cricket, a team game. Golf, on the other hand, is an individual sport. But India needs a team format in golf as well,” he said. Emphasising the impact of team dynamics, Kapil added that while individual excellence will always remain central to golf, a collective format brings a different energy.
“Individual brilliance will always prevail, but team sport hits different. Our vision is to make golfers experience team sport,” he said.
Kapil further said the league’s primary aim is to promote golfers and give them a stronger platform. “A golfer should talk more. We are here just to promote them. Like cricket, only cricketers should talk about it and no one else,” he said.
Referring to the IPL’s influence, Kapil noted that the league model has proven its ability to reshape sports in India. “After what happened in cricket after the IPL, we are trying to replicate that in other sports as well. This league is a step in that direction,” he said.
UP Prometheans were announced as the first franchise of ‘72 The League’, with five more franchises expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
J&K Taekwondo Athletes Win Three Medals at National Championship
Jammu & Kashmir’s Taekwondo athletes delivered an impressive performance at the 40th National ITF Taekwondo Championship held at Maris Stella Indoor Stadium, Vijayawada, winning three medals for the Union Territory.
Representing the Taekwondo Sports Association of Jammu & Kashmir, the three-member contingent showcased exceptional skill and discipline. Shivnandan Sharma clinched a gold medal, while Harpal Singh also secured gold, underlining their dominance in their respective categories. Adarsh Lohatra added a silver medal to the tally, further highlighting the region’s growing strength in the sport.
The athletes were coached by Vicky Kumar, whose guidance proved crucial during the championship. They trained under the mentorship of chief instructor Manmohan Sharma, whose expertise and experience played a significant role in the team’s success.
The strong showing at the national level reflects the steady progress of Taekwondo in Jammu and Kashmir and the dedication of its athletes and coaching staff.