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Prime Minister Modi Extends Greetings for Chaitra Navratri, New Samvat Year, and Gudi Padwa

New Delhi, March 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed his best wishes to the nation on the occasion of the commencement of Chaitra Navra

NCERT book ban, a chapter on judicial transparency

The top courts ban on an NCERT textbook exposes gaps in judicial accountability and public trust

Fitness Controversy Surrounds Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman Ahead of T20 World Cup

New Delhi, March 19: A new controversy has emerged in Pakistan cricket regarding the fitness of Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman. Reports indicate tha

Assembly elections 2026 LIVE: EC tightens grip on Bengal polls with strategic officer transfers as Trinamool faces protests over denial of tickets

The BJPs Central Election Committee held a meeting in New Delhi to discuss and finalise the names of the party candidates for the upcoming Assemb

Trump threatens to 'blow up' Irans South Pars gas field if Qatar LNG is hit again

Former US President Donald Trump issued a strong warning to Iran. He stated that if Iran attacks Qatar's energy facilities again, the United Stat

Pentagon Warns of Unprecedented Challenge from Nuclear Powers Russia and China

Washington, March 19: Senior defense officials have informed lawmakers that the United States faces an unprecedented challenge in deterring two n

US Fed keeps interest rates unchanged, flags oil shock risks

Washington: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the US central bank was keeping interest rates unchanged as it monitored the fallout from hi

Devotees Mark Chaitra Navratri with Prayers Across India

The air resonated with the sound of bells and hymns as the Aarti performed marked the commencement of the nine-day festival dedicated to Goddess

Indian wolf at Pilikula zoo gives birth to seven pups

This is the first time that an Indian wolf under captivity had given birth to pups at the park

Celebrating Navratri: The Nine Divine Forms of Goddess Durga and Their Unique Vehicles

New Delhi, March 19: During Chaitra Navratri, devotees worship the nine divine forms of Goddess Durga, known as Navadurga. Each form possesses di

Iran, Saudi Arabia trade warnings after gas attacks; Riyadh says 'we reserve the right to take military actions'

Iran and Saudi Arabia have issued sharp warnings following attacks on energy infrastructure across the Gulf. These strikes have caused oil prices

Earlier too, foreign mercenaries went to Myanmar via Mizoram

Border Porous, Area Out Of Junta's Control

Taking women founders global; Function-first innerwear for women

SonderConnect is taking its support for women entrepreneurs global with Indo-French Ignite x 2026. Krvvy, a D2C innerwear brand, is offering wome

Saudi Warns Patience With Iranian Aggression 'Not Unlimited'

We are going to use every lever we have, political, economic, diplomatic ... to get these attacks to stop, said Saudi foreign minister Prince Fai

Chaitra Navratri Special: The Tradition of Offering Jaggery to Goddess Durga

New Delhi, March 19: The auspicious festival of Chaitra Navratri is currently underway. For nine days, devotees worship the nine forms of Goddess

Epstein row: Pam Bondi reacts to subpoena, says will follow the law as Democrats stage walkout

Chaitra Navratri Day Two: Auspicious Timings and Rituals to Observe

New Delhi, March 19: The second day of Chaitra Navratri, a festival dedicated to the worship of Adishakti, will see the reverence of Goddess Durg

US national debt tops $39 trillion weeks into Iran war

America's national debt has crossed a record $39 trillion. This milestone occurs amidst the ongoing U.S.-Iran war. The rising debt impacts Americ

Word of the day - Peremptory

Understand the power of 'peremptory,' a word signifying unyielding authority and immediate compliance. This term, rooted in Latin, describes comm

Maharashtra government to issue ban on use of plastic flowers

Mr. Fadnavis was responding to the concerns raised by BJP MLC Sadashiv Khot around the increased use of plastic flowers, which is impacting the m

UK to tighten steel import quotas, hike tariffs to shield domestic industry

Britain is set to protect its steel sector. The government will reduce the tariff-free steel import quota by 60 percent. Imports above this new l

How MicrobioTx is using AI and a finger-prick test to decode gut health

Founded by Akanksha Gupta and microbiome researcher Dr Palok, the healthtech startup uses AI-driven metabolite analysis to profile gut microbes a

Social Media Impacts Youth Wellbeing, Girls Most Affected: UN Report

This year's World Happiness Report highlighted the impact of social media as many countries impose or mull legislative restrictions on social med

Iran-Israel war LIVE: Iran threatens massive Gulf energy retaliation after intelligence chief killed, world's largest natural gas field attacked

Iran blamed Israel and the United States for strikes on its giant South Pars gas facility, with President Masoud Pezeshkian warning of uncontroll

Revolutionary, mercenary, spy: US terror suspect has a long resume

Happy Chaitra Navratri 2026: 100+ wishes, HD images, Instagram quotes, WhatsApp status, messages and greetings to share on March 19

Happy Chaitra Navratri 2026 Images Wishes: Chaitra Navratri marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year and is a festival dedicated to the worship

Happy Ugadi 2026: 100+ wishes, images, quotes, greetings, WhatsApp messages and Instagram status you can share on Telugu and Kannada New Year

Ugadi 2026 Wishes, images and Quotes: Ugadi, a prominent festival celebrated in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana symbolizes a fresh start

Happy Gudi Padwa 2026: 100+ wishes, HD images, wallpapers quotes, greetings, WhatsApp messages and Instagram status for Marathi new year

Gudi Padwa 2026 wishes, HD wallpapers: Gudi Padwa marks the beginning of the Marathi New Year and the commencement of the Vikram Samvat and is ce

India, Pakistan ties remain a risk for nuclear conflict: U.S. Intelligence

The report stated that President Trumps intervention de-escalated the most recent nuclear tensions

Woman Says Bengaluru Metro Feels Like 'Luxury' After Travelling In 'Warm' And 'Crowded' London Tube

A viral Instagram video compares London Tube's lack of air conditioning to Bengaluru Metro's fully air-conditioned trains and stations, highlight

How can temples be classified as 'industry', asks Tamil Nadu board in SC

Surplus money, P 9

Abu Dhabi Closes Gas Facility Due to Falling Missile Debris

The United Arab Emirates' foreign ministry expressed strong condemnation of the attack, which it blamed on Iran

India's child deaths down sharply but are still a worry: UN

Woman Exposes Poor And Unhygienic Conditions Of London Tube In Viral Video

The London Underground faces criticism after a viral video shows urination and foul smells, challenging its reputation for safety and cleanliness

Strikes hit world's largest natural gas field in Iran, and Tehran retaliates with more attacks as West Asia war continues

West Asia War: Iran's attacks on energy facilities in the UAE and Qatar mark a dangerous escalation. Israel's targeted killings of Iranian offici

Fears of early summer recede, wet spells likely in North till March-end

Heatwave spell broken, P 20

Morning Digest: Iran hits Gulf energy sites after attack on its gas field; 22 India-bound ships on Hormuz evacuation list, and more

Here is a select list of stories to start the day.

LIVE: Qatar Expels Iranian Diplomats Over Gas Facility Attack

Qatar's foreign ministry on Wednesday ordered Iran's military and security attaches along with their staff to leave the country within 24 hours

2 short workout sessions a week can keep you fit: Study

West Asia War: Qatar says Iran attacked LNG hub; UAE shuts major gas facilities

Iran launched missile attacks on Qatar's Ras Laffan energy hub, causing significant damage. The UAE also reported intercepted missiles and shut d

Iran War: JD Vance to meet with oil trade group, acknowledges 'rough road ahead' on gas prices

US Vice President JD Vance and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will meet with oil industry leaders. The administration plans to announce measures t

Mumbai will not move towards gang wars: saysCM Fadnavis on attacks on celebrities

A series of high-profile firing incidents in Mumbai between 2024 and 2026, involving actor Salman Khan, politician Baba Siddique, and filmmaker R

Morning Brief Podcast: Semaglutide Goes Generic: Big Pharmas Moat Breaks

US weighs military reinforcements as Iran war enters possible new phase

America is weighing a significant troop increase in the Middle East. Thousands of US soldiers may be deployed as part of the ongoing campaign aga

Not our war: Europe says no to Trump

Europeans have long been wary that angering Trump could mean he cuts them loose on Ukraine or tries to force Kyiv to accept a deal that favours M

U.S. weighs military reinforcements as Iran war enters possible new phase

The deployments could help provide Trump with additional options as he weighs expanding U.S. operations, with the Iran war well into its third we

Iran says Israel hit South Pars gas field, retaliates with strikes on Gulf energy hubs

The escalation has disrupted global energy supplies, sent oil prices above $108 per barrel, and increased regional tensions.

Pentagon planning US troop reinforcements as West Asia conflict escalates

Options include securing the Strait of Hormuz, Kharg Island oil facilities, and Irans uranium stockpiles

Cubas leader says U.S. aggression would meet impregnable resistance

The Trump administration is looking for Mr. Daz-Canel to leave as the U.S. continues negotiating with the Cuban government

Three-day Spring Fest 2026 commences at Shoolini University

Excelsior Correspondent SOLAN, Mar 18 : The three day long annual fest, Spring Fest 2026 was today commenced at the Shoolini University. The even

Allen announces JEE and NEET batch dates

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 18: Allen Career Institute Kota and other centres today announced the dates for new batches for IIT-JEE and NE

India-Pakistan relations remain at risk for nuclear conflict, US warns

The Annual Threat Assessment cites terrorism, missile developments, and past conflicts as potential catalysts for escalation, while ISIS-K contin

FBI Hunts For Indian National In Mail, Wire Fraud Conspiracy

The Federal Bureau of Investigation of the US on Wednesday said it has launched a hunt for Indian national Kalpeshkumar Rasikbhai Patel for alleg

U.S. national debt surges past $39 trillion just weeks into war in Iran

The U.S. national debt has hit a record $39 trillion

The Madison Episode 4 to 6 release time, schedule and how to watch: When is the finale? Global streaming timings worldwide, story overview and setting

The Madison Episode 4 to 6 release time, schedule and how to watch is confirmed for March 21 on Paramount+. Episodes will release together global

When the World Waits for India to Blink

Ranbir Singh Pathania rspathaniamla@gmail.com It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The famous opening line of Charles Dickens per

Centre promise 10 pc more LPG to states that expedite piped gas rollout

NEW DELHI, Mar 18: As the LPG supply squeeze extends into the third week, the central government on Wednesday promised to increase supplies of co

Three Palestinian women killed in Iranian missile attack in the West Bank, Red Crescent says

The Israeli military said it understood the strike was caused by a cluster munition, a warhead that splits into tiny bomblets that scatter into a

U.S. intel official says Iran's regime still intact but refuses to discuss talks with Trump about war

The statement was notable given Mr. Trumps repeated assertions that a war with Iran was necessary to head off what he said was an imminent threat

Clear Electricity Arrears

The directive issued by the Finance Department asking all Government Departments and subordinate offices to clear pending electricity dues is a t

Opposition states playing politics by stalling PM-named welfare schemes: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

NEW DELHI, Mar 18: Launching a blistering attack on the opposition, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday accused opposit

X hit by major global outage; thousands of users affected

NEW DELHI, Mar 18 : Microblogging platform X on Wednesday faced a major technical snag as thousands of users globally, including in India, report

Reported attack targets South Pars gas field, a crucial energy lifeline for Iran

Iran has warned of retaliation, raising fears of further strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure and prolonged volatility in global markets

War Against Iran: Its Global Consequences

Prof Rajni Kant rkant.ju@gmail.com The outbreak of war between the United States-Israel and Iran marks one of the most dangerous geopolitical cri

Both sides in Iran war step up attacks on energy facilities as oil prices surge

Iran retaliated with missile attacks across the region, targeting Gulf energy infrastructure and disrupting the Strait of Hormuz.

Qatar Expels Iranian Embassy Staff Over Gas Facility Attack

Qatar has declared the military and security attaches at the Iranian Embassy, along with their staff, persona non grata and has requested that th

Pak President expresses grief over killing of Larijani, calls for cessation of hostilities

ISLAMABAD, Mar 18: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday expressed grief over the killing of Irans top security official Ali Larijani

Asmita Khelo India Womens Weightlifting League concludes

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 18: The Asmita Khelo India Womens Weightlifting League 2025-26, organized by the Jammu & Kashmir Weight

LG joins Shri Raghunath Jis Jammu Aarti

Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, Mar 18: The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today called upon the people to organise daily or weekly evening aart

25 lakh personnel to be deployed for 5 assembly elections: EC

NEW DELHI, Mar 18 : As many as 25 lakh personnel, including 8.5 lakh security personnel, will be deployed for the five assembly polls to be held

Dr Farooq expresses concern over escalating conflict in West Asia

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 18: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, president Dr Farooq Abdullah today expressed grave concern o

No jeans and T-shirts: Himachal govt issues dress code, social media guidelines for employees

SHIMLA, Mar 18: The government of Himachal Pradesh has issued fresh directives introducing a dress code for state government employees and laying

Recognition, grant-in-aid of pvt institute choice of Govt: HC

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 18: The High Court has said that any citizen has a right to establish a private educational institution but

China pushes for Middle East ceasefire as NATO deploys Patriots to southern Turkey

BEIJING, Mar 18 : China on Wednesday said it would continue its mediation efforts to push for a ceasefire and bring an end to the ongoing conflic

Jammu Veteran League Edition 2 begins

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 18: The Jammu Veteran League Edition 2 Anti-Drug Cricket Tournament was organized by Samvedna Club at M

AFT puts Col Purohits retirement on hold till his promotion plea is heard

Alert Issued for Heat Wave: Chief Secretary Directs Awareness Campaign in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow, March 19: In response to rising temperatures and the potential for a heat wave, Chief Secretary S.P. Goyal has instructed all districts

Powell says stagflation belongs to the 1970s, not todays US economy

He stressed that inflation remains only slightly above target and unemployment is low, unlike the severe economic conditions of the 1970s

Devagowda Responds Humorously to Kharges Remarks on Congress Alliance

New Delhi, March 19: Former Prime Minister and Rajya Sabha MP H.D. Devagowda humorously responded to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharges remar

Sudden Weather Change Disrupts Life in Noida with Dust Storm and Light Rain

Noida, March 19: The weather in Noida and surrounding areas took an unexpected turn on Wednesday, providing relief from the intense heat. However

NC introduces bill in Assembly to safeguard land rights: Sadiq

Irfan Tramboo SRINAGAR, Mar 18: The National Conference (NC) has introduced a private members bill in the Legislative Assembly seeking to safegua

For march-end, Govt issues guidelines to regulate treasury operations

*DDOs, TOs asked to adhere to deadlines Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Mar 18: The Finance Department has regulated treasury operations during

LG, CM greet people on Navratri, Navreh

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 18: The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has conveyed his greetings to the people on the eve of Navreh, Chaitr

CAT pulls up Govt over Lecturer Recruitment Rules

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 18: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Jammu Bench, has held that outdated Jammu and Kashmir Recruitme

Opportunity to Become Senior Safety Officer at BEL: Apply by April 6

New Delhi, March 19: A promising opportunity has arisen for young individuals aspiring to work at a prestigious institution. Bharat Electronics L

Drug peddlers house attached in Samba

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 18: A house belonging to a notorious drug peddler was attached in Samba district today, police spokesperson sa

Three tippers seized for illegal mining

Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Mar 18: A police team from Police Station Thanamandi, led by SHO Inspector Sachinder Pal Singh, seized three tip

Rupee crashes 49 paise to record low of 92.89 against US dollar

MUMBAI, Mar 18: The rupee slumped 49 paise to close at a record low of 92.89 against the US dollar on Wednesday, weighed down by a stronger green

37 bovines rescued, 4 vehicles seized in Udhampur

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 18: Police here today claimed to have foiled four separate bovine smuggling attempts in different areas by res

Chief Secretary reviews status of recruitments, promotions and vacancy referrals in Ladakh

Excelsior Correspondent LEH, March 18 : The Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, chaired a meeting to review the stat