Srinagar, Jan 13: Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday said that the terrorist recruitment in Jammu and Kashmir is almost non-existent and that local terrorists are now in single digits, indicating a positive change in the Union Territory.

Speaking to reporters during his first press conference of 2026, General Dwivedi said that since May 10 last year, the situation along the Western Front and J&K remains sensitive but firmly under control.

He said that in 2025, 31 terrorists were eliminated, of which 65% were Pakistan origin, including the three perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack who were neutralised in Operation Mahadev.

“Active local terrorists are now in single digits. Terrorist recruitment is almost non-existent, with only 2 in 2025. Clear indicators of positive change in J&K include robust development activity, revival of tourism and peaceful Amarnath Yatra, which saw more than 4 lakh pilgrims exceeding the five-year average. The theme of terrorism to tourism is gradually taking shape,” he said

He also said that Operation Sindoor remains ongoing, and a future misadventure will be resolutely responded to. “I must acknowledge the proactive role of all stakeholders at the national level, including CAPFs, intelligence agencies, civic bodies, state administration and other ministries,” he said.

He added that Operation Sindoor was the “best example of tri-service synergy under a clear-cut political directive and full freedom to act or respond”.

He said the army successfully destroyed seven out of the nine targets and that it was ready for a ground offensive—(KNO)

New Delhi, Jan 13: The Supreme Court on Tuesday delivered a split verdict on the constitutional validity of a 2018 provision of the anti-graft law which mandates prior sanction before initiating a probe against a government servant in a corruption case.

While Justice BV Nagarathna said Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act is unconstitutional and needs to be struck down, Justice KV Viswanathan held the provision as constitutional while stressing on the need to protect honest officers.

Requirement of prior sanction is contrary to the Prevention of Corruption Act, forecloses inquiry and protects corrupt, Justice Nagarathna said.

Justice Viswanathan said striking down section 17A will be akin to throwing the baby out with the bath water and the “cure will be worse than the disease”.

The case will now be placed before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant for forming a larger bench to hear the matter again for a final decision.

Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, introduced in July 2018, bars any “enquiry or inquiry or investigation” against a public servant for recommendations made in discharge of official duties without prior approval from the competent authority.

The top court’s judgement came on a PIL filed by NGO ‘Centre for Public Interest Litigation’ (CPIL) against the validity of amended section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

New Delhi, Jan 13: As Delhi and its surrounding areas prepare to celebrate Lohri on Tuesday night with outdoor gatherings and bonfires, the national capital continues to reel under an intense cold wave coupled with hazardous air pollution.

The city recorded its coldest January morning in three years, with the minimum temperature hovering around 3 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The IMD reported a minimum temperature of 2.9 degrees Celsius on Monday and issued an orange alert for cold wave conditions across large parts of the city.

Delhi’s primary weather observatory, in south Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 3 degrees Celsius, about 4.4 degrees below normal, PTI reported. The last colder January night was recorded on January 16, 2023, when the mercury dipped to 1.4 degrees Celsius.

Cold wave conditions are not limited to Delhi alone. Large parts of north India, including Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are also experiencing severe cold. Several districts in Punjab and Haryana recorded near-freezing night temperatures, while dense fog and icy winds continued to disrupt normal life across western Uttar Pradesh.

The IMD has issued cold wave and fog warnings for these neighbouring states as well, cautioning people against prolonged outdoor exposure during night and early morning hours.

Air quality in Delhi remains in the category of “hazardous” with the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 300 in most areas on Tuesday. Dense fog enveloped the region, reducing visibility in the morning and causing delays in road, rail and air traffic. Officials said the combined effect of cold wave conditions, calm winds and fog has contributed to a steady rise in pollution levels across the capital and the National Capital Region (NCR).

As Lohri celebrations involve late-night outdoor activities, authorities and health experts have asked people to be careful. Residents have been advised to wear enough warm clothes and avoid staying outside for long hours at night. Extra care is needed for the elderly, children and people with long-term illnesses, as they are more affected by severe cold.

The cold weather has made life even harder for thousands of homeless people in Delhi and the NCR. Although night shelters have been arranged at several places, many people, mostly labour class are still forced to sleep in the open. Some are lighting small fires with collected waste to keep warm, while others are taking shelter under flyovers, near boundary walls, on pavements and around construction sites. Social organisations have warned that staying in extreme cold and inhaling smoke from such fires can cause serious health problems.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that minimum temperatures in the coming days are likely to stay between 3 and 5 degrees Celsius.

In its weather bulletin on Monday, the IMD said night temperatures may return to near-normal levels after January 15. A yellow alert has been issued for Wednesday due to continued cold wave and fog. Daytime temperatures have given only slight relief, with maximum temperatures between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius because of sunshine. However, nights remain very cold.

The IMD said clear skies at night are causing rapid heat loss, leading to a sharp fall in temperatures. Officials said this is the first officially recorded cold wave of the season at Safdarjung, though some areas had experienced similar conditions earlier. As the cold wave continues in north India, authorities have urged people to stay alert and take safety measures during outdoor activities and celebrations.

Beijing, Jan13: Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning on Monday rejected India’s claim to the Shaksgam Valley in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The territory you mentioned belongs to China. It’s fully justified for China to conduct infrastructure construction on its own territory,” Mao said when asked about border issues and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The spokesperson further said that China and Pakistan had signed a boundary agreement in the 1960s and demarcated borders between the two countries and that the settlement was an exercise of the rights of two sovereign states.

According to a Global Times report, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson further said the CPEC is an economic cooperation project intended to promote local economic and social development and improve people’s livelihoods. Mao stressed that the border agreement between China and Pakistan, and the CPEC do not affect China’s position on the Kashmir issue, adding that China’s position on this matter has not changed.

The Shaksgam Valley, borders Xinjiang Province of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the north, the Northern Areas of POJK to the south and west, and the Siachen Glacier region to the east.

Earlier on January 9, India firmly rejected China’s infrastructure buildup through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the Shaksgam Valley, terming it “illegal and invalid”, while noting that the region is an “integral and inalienable part” of India.

During a weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India has never recognised the “so-called” China-Pakistan boundary agreement of 1963 or the “so-called” CPEC.

“Shaksgam Valley is an Indian territory. We have never recognised the so-called China-Pakistan boundary agreement of 1963. We have consistently maintained that the agreement is illegal and invalid. We do not recognise the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor either, which passes through Indian territory, which is under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan,” Jaiswal said.

He reaffirmed that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral and inalienable part of India, noting that New Delhi has “consistently protested” to the Chinese side on the matter and has further reserved the right to safeguard its interests.

“The entire UTs of J&K and Ladakh are an integral and inalienable part of India. This has been clearly conveyed to the Chinese and Pakistani authorities several times. We have consistently protested with the Chinese side for its attempts to alter the ground reality in the Shaksgam Valley. We further reserve the right to take necessary measures to safeguard our interests,” the MEA Spokesperson added.