In a major breakthrough towards restoring peace in the tense Union Territory of Ladakh, the UT administration and representatives of the civil society of Leh on Thursday held their first meaningful dialogue since the September 24 violence that claimed four lives.

The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday carried out extensive searches at eight locations across seven districts of the Kashmir Valley as part of its ongoing crackdown on terror networks.

Talks between the agitating Ladakhi groups and the Ministry of Home Affairs' High-Powered Committee have hit a roadblock, as the meeting scheduled for October 6 could not be held due to the stand taken by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).

A respected Opposition member even appeared ready to leap over the bench as if to disrupt proceedings. Watch and Ward staff are human beings; why protest against them who are silently performing their duties? Some protests were directed even at women MLAs. Such behaviour is entirely unacceptable, he remarked.

Speaking at the inaugural session of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, PM Modi said the development reflects the strength of the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision' and India's progress in the telecom sector over the past decade.

According to official sources, the arrest took place shortly after Sandipan Garg appeared before the SIT at the CID headquarters in Guwahati for questioning. He is expected to be produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court later in the day.

Meanwhile, advocacy group Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) thanked California Governor Gavin Newsom for recognising the important festival and ushering in a new era of inclusion for Hindus in California.

Meanwhile, led by Apple, India's smartphone exports crossed Rs 1 lakh crore in value in the first five months of FY26, setting a new record, according to industry estimates. The smartphone export figure represented a 55 per cent increase -- from Rs 64,500 crore during the same period last fiscal (FY25).

The attack on May 7, which claimed 15 lives and injured 59, has left deep emotional and psychological wounds among residents. Despite rehabilitation efforts, people still live in constant dread of another assault.

The fraudsters had trapped a Jammu-based businessman under a digital arrest, coercing him into transferring the money under the guise of a law enforcement probe.

The nomination process for four Rajya Sabha seats from J&K began on Sunday, but the NC-led ruling coalition has not yet announced its candidates. While NC leaders insist the party will contest three of the four seats, alliance partner Congress is pressing for one winnable seat to strengthen the coalition.

The four-day mega event will unite global telecom leaders, innovators, startups and policymakers under one roof, to shape the roadmap for 6G, AI-native networks, satellite communications and next-gen digital infrastructure, reaffirming India's leadership in the global telecom arena, he wrote on social media platform X.

The Opinion Poll further shows that Prime Minister Narendra Modi also remains a deciding factor in shaping public opinion and deciding voters' choice in the impending elections, with 9 per cent respondents saying that it will be a key factor when people cast their ballot.

The SEBI chairman was speaking at the inauguration of the week-long celebration of the 'world investor week 2025', in India with the theme 'Fraud and scams prevention and basics of investing'. This is a global campaign by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) to highlight the importance of Investor Education and protection.

Protesters raised slogans against the government's push for prepaid metering, calling it a burden on the poor and a violation of consumer rights. Many claimed that after the installation of smart meters, their electricity bills had doubled or even tripled, with some receiving bills twice a month.

In its 5th charge sheet filed before the NIA Special Court, Patiala House, Delhi, the NIA has charged Rahul Sarkar with facilitating members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in committing terror activities in India.

From a technical perspective, Nifty has successfully broken above the key psychological and technical resistance level of 25,000, turning the structure decisively positive, analysts said.

The Drug Control Department has been on alert since the beginning and is testing a large number of medicines, with Karnataka being among the leading states in this effort. We will get results in two to three days time, he said.

In view of the heavy rainfall warning issued by the India Meteorological Department, the Directorate of School Education, Jammu, has ordered the closure of all government and private schools across the division on October 6 and 7.

Five FIRs registered against 16 accused, including Chandigarh-based company executives, government officials, and a lawyer; victims cheated of crores through fake job offers and visa fraud.

As part of its intensified drive against terror networks, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday attached property worth 2 crore belonging to absconding terrorist Sajad Ahmad Sheikh alias Sajad Gul in Srinagar.

Taking lessons from recent tragedies, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has suspended two major pilgrimagesthe Machail Mata Yatra in Kishtwar and the Vaishno Devi Yatra in Reasifollowing forecasts of heavy rainfall and possible landslides.

LAHDC Leh Chief Executive Councillor and senior BJP leader Tashi Gyalson said there is an urgent need to restore public confidence and verify whether due procedures were followed before firing on unarmed civilians.

Within hours of the Leh Police filing an FIR over a deepfake video of the DGP Ladakh, another fabricated clip went viral on social media, this time falsely showing ADC Leh Ghulam Mohammad claiming climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on the orders of the Union Home Ministry.

A day after rejecting the allegations of the authorities, Dr. Gitanjali J. Angmo, wife of jailed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, appealed to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah for his unconditional release

The Union Territory administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the September 24 violence in Leh, which claimed four lives, even as local bodies such as the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) continue to demand a judicial probe.

The ECI has announced elections for four Rajya Sabha seats from J&K, lying vacant since February 2021. While the NC, Congress, and allies are confident of winning three seats, the BJP is well-positioned to secure one.

Amid heightened tension in Ladakh following recent violence, the LAB announced a boycott of further engagement with the Union Government, citing fear and unrest after alleged excesses by security forces. Within hours, the MHA reaffirmed that the Centre remains committed to holding meaningful discussions with agitating groups.

Hours before a scheduled meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) announced it would not participate in talks with the High-Powered Committee (HPC) until normalcy is restored in violence-hit Leh.

Amid heightened political tensions following Wednesday's unprecedented violence in Leh and the arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, leaders of agitating groups from Ladakh reached New Delhi on Monday for preliminary talks with the MHA. The discussions aim to finalize issues to be raised during the HPC meeting scheduled for October 6.

Jammu rejoiced as Mithun Manhas, a native of Bhalessa in Doda district, was unanimously elected as the new President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He becomes the first person from Jammu and Kashmir and the first uncapped cricketer to head the cricket board.

Security forces on Sunday morning foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, killing two terrorists near Hyder Post in the Keran sector. The identity of the slain terrorists is being ascertained.

A fresh controversy has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir as refugees from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) demanded Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, accusing the government of discriminatory exclusion

Ladakh DGP S.D. Singh Jamwal accused climate activist Sonam Wangchuk of being the key conspirator behind the September 24 violence in Leh, which left four civilians dead and scores injured. The DGP said Wangchuk's alleged links with a recently arrested Pakistani intelligence operative are under investigation.

The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court on Friday adjourned the hearing of a petition challenging the nomination of five MLAs under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019. The case, filed by Congress leader Ravinder Sharma, questions the constitutionality of empowering the Lieutenant Governor to nominate legislators without consulting the elected government.

Arrested under the NSA, Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to Jodhpur Jail in Rajasthan amid tight security. The Ladakh administration said Wangchuk's provocative speeches and videos triggered the September 24 Leh violence that left four people dead and dozens injured.

After violent protests in Leh, representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) held talks with the Union Home Ministry. Both groups will attend a preparatory meeting in New Delhi on September 27 or 28, ahead of the High-Powered Committee dialogue scheduled for October 6.

Leh witnessed unprecedented violence on September 24, leaving four dead and 61 injured, after a bandh call by the youth wing of the Leh Apex Body turned violent. Authorities imposed an indefinite curfew following large-scale arson, including attacks on the BJP office and a police vehicle.

The Court on Wednesday admitted a habeas corpus petition filed by Doda (East) MLA Mehraj Din Malik, challenging his preventive detention under the PSA. Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul issued notices to the J&K Government and other respondents, directing them to file their response by October 14.

Leh witnessed a sudden outbreak of violence as a bandh call by the youth wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) turned violent, leading to stone-pelting, arson, and attacks on the BJP office and the LAHDC headquarters. Several vehicles and office properties were set ablaze, forcing police and paramilitary forces to use teargas to disperse crowds.

A humanitarian crisis has shaken Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir, where two young men, Sachin Khajuria and Sumit Sharma, remain trapped in the Russia-Ukraine war zone after being duped by fraudulent agents.

Amid mounting political tensions, the National Conference has rejected calls for resignation, with Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary accusing the PDP and BJP of maintaining an undeclared alliance to weaken the Omar Abdullah-led government.

The political divide between the ruling National Conference (NC) and the opposition Congress has deepened following sharp exchanges over the government's handling of recent floods and the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.

The recent floods and cloudbursts in the Jammu region have left a trail of devastation, with over 4,200 houses completely destroyed and more than 8,600 partially damaged. According to official data, 150 people lost their lives, 178 were injured, and 33 remain missing, with Kishtwar recording the highest casualties.

The recent floods in Jammu province have not only claimed lives and destroyed property but also unleashed a silent health crisis. During a medical camp organized by Dr. Sushil Sharma, Head of Cardiology at Super Specialty Hospital Jammu, many flood-affected residents were diagnosed with cardiovascular problems.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has scheduled the next round of talks with Ladakh's agitating groups on October 6, ending a four-month stalemate.

Efforts of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to broaden its base in Jammu and Kashmir suffered a major setback on Thursday after Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association president, Nirmal K. Kotwal, withdrew from the legal team of arrested AAP MLA Mehraj Malik, citing national security concerns.

In a compassionate decision, authorities are moving to declare 32 persons missing after the August 14 cloudburst in Choshiti village of Kishtwar district as dead within six months. Normally, government rules require a seven-year wait to declare a missing person deceased, but the rule has been relaxed in this special case to enable families to receive compensation.

Choshiti village in Kishtwar district is still reeling from the devastating cloudburst and flash flood that struck on August 14. Though relief and rescue efforts have been completed, the emotional and psychological scars run deep.

In Digiana, Jammu, a deeply emotional scene unfolded as symbolic funeral rites were performed for Sahil Sharma, his wife Lovely, and their three-year-old son Raghav, who went missing after a devastating cloudburst in Kishtwar a month ago.