Daily Excelsior

Jammu, Mar 7: The Armys Northern Command in Jammu and Kashmirs Udhampur district on Saturday hosted a synergy conference with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Border Security Force (BSF) to enhance coordination in view of the evolving security landscape, officials said. The conference, under the leadership of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, focused on sharing insights into the operational construct, aligning strategies and capabilities to

ISLAMABAD, Mar 7: An anti-terrorism court on Saturday sentenced 47 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders and supporters to 10 years imprisonment and a PKR 5,00,000 fine each in absentia for vandalism and violence during the May 9, 2023, protest. The countrywide protest was launched by workers and leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) following the arrest of former premier and party founder Imran Khan in Islamabad. A group of protesters also tried to storm the General Headquarters, the seat of

DUBAI, Mar 7: As attacks spread after the bombing of Iran by US and Israeli forces, a video circulated widely of crowds peering up at fire, smoke and debris coming from the top of a high-rise building said to be in Bahrain. Social media users claimed an Iranian attack had hit the skyscraper. But while buildings in Bahrain have been struck by Iranian missiles during the Iran war, this video wasnt real. It was generated with artificial intelligence and shared [] The post State actors are behind mu

NEW YORK, Mar 7: Asif Merchant, a 47-year-old Pakistani with ties to Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps, has been convicted of murder-for-hire and attempting terrorism across national borders. He has been found guilty of plotting to assassinate US officials, including President Donald Trump, by hiring a hitman in New York in 2024. A federal jury in Brooklyn found him guilty after a weeklong trial in Brooklyn amid the US-Israel war with Iran. According to prosecutors, Merchant, a trained operative o

HONG KONG, Mar 7: A subsidiary of a Hong Kong-based company that has lost control of two critical ports on the Panama Canal said it is seeking USD 2 billion of compensation in damages from Panama over its illegal takeover of the ports. Panama Ports Company, a unit of Hong Kongs CK Hutchison Holdings, said in a Friday statement that it is demanding the sum under international arbitration proceedings that it had already started. Panamas government last week seized control [] The post Hong Kong fir

ISLAMABAD, Mar 7: Amidst escalating tensions in West Asia, Pakistans Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir travelled to Saudi Arabia and met Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to discuss the security situation. Saudi Arabia has come under attacks by Iran, putting in cross hairs the mutual defence pact signed between Islamabad and Riyadh last year. The countries are bound by the agreement to come to the defence of each other in case of attack by [] The post Paks CDF M

WOLLONGONG, Mar 7: A large release of important documents once meant teams of journalists staying back, working through piles of records late into the night. Today, it triggers something closer to a public audit. The January 30 publication of more than three million documents related to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has mobilised thousands of online users into doing their own digging. They range from massively popular political livestreamers such as Hasan Piker and Dean Withers, t

NEW YORK, Mar 7: Over 100 images of Hindu Gods, curated from collections dating 1860 to 1930, are being displayed at a special exhibition at the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) here. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is presenting the exhibition Household Gods: Hindu Devotional Prints, 18601930 on view in four rotations beginning January this year through June 27, 2027, the museum said in a statement. The exhibition presents over 100 works drawn from The Met collection, focusing []

NEW DELHI, Mar 7:The peak power demand is projected to be around 270 GW this summer and there will no affect on regular electricity supply due to West Asia crisis, Minister of State for Power Shripad Yesso Naik said on Saturday. Ministry of Power had projected 277 GW of peak power demand during last summer (April 2025 onwards). Peak power demand in June 2025 was 242.77 GW. According to the government data, the peak power demand met or the highest [] The post Peak power demand to be at 270 GW thi

Chandigarh, Mar 7: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday slammed Congress MLAs for staging a walkout from the Punjab Assembly during the governors address on Friday, claiming they did so because they couldnt hear the achievements of the AAP government. The Congress MLAs dont have any issue to raise. What else could they do? People do not like them, Mann said while speaking to reporters after seeing off a batch of school principals for a training programme in Singapore. [] The post They

NEW DELHI, Mar 7: The Government has fixed the wheat procurement target at 30.3 million tonne for the 2026-27 Rabi Marketing Season (RMS), as per an official statement. The target was finalised at a meeting of State Food Secretaries chaired by the Secretary in Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), here on Friday. Much of the wheat procurement is undertaken between April and June, while other crops through the season till March. Paddy procurement for 2025-26 (Rabi crop) has [] The po

Jammu, Mar 7: Since the formation of the National Conference-led government in Jammu and Kashmir in 2024, as many as 5,881 development works worth Rs 22,275 crore proposed by MLAs during pre-budget discussions for Budget Estimates 202526 have been accommodated, officials in the finance department said. Under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), the MLAs have so far recommended around 12,000 works worth about Rs 313 crore against an allocation of Rs 427 crore, indicating strong progress in fu

SRINAGAR, Mar 7 : Director General of J&K Police, Nalin Prabhat, chaired a comprehensive review meeting on Saturday to assess the overall security scenario, counter-terror (CT) operations and law & order situation in Police District Awantipora. The meeting was held at the District Police Office Awantipora and was attended by senior officers including Special DG Coordination PHQ J&K S.J.M. Gillani, Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone V.K. Birdi, DIG South Kashmir Range Javid Iqbal Matoo, SSP

Dubai, Mar 7: Irans president said on Saturday that a demand by the United States for an unconditional surrender is a dream that they should take to their grave. President Masoud Pezeshkian made the statement in a prerecorded address aired by state television. He also apologised for Irans attacks on regional countries, insisting that Tehran would halt them and suggesting they were caused by miscommunication in the ranks. The comments came as intense Iranian fire targeted the Gulf Arab states []

SRINAGAR, Mar 7: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the safe return of students from Jammu and Kashmir stranded in Iran. In a post on X, Mufti, a former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, said that as the situation rapidly deteriorates in Iran, thousands of students from the Union territory studying there are currently stranded. Urge PM @narendramodi ji for his personal intervention to ensure [

Darjeeling (WB), Mar 7: President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday said the contributions of the Santals to the countrys freedom struggle have not received due recognition, and asserted that the names of several legends belonging to the community were not deliberately included in history. After inaugurating the ninth International Santal Conference at Bidhannagar in Siliguri in West Bengals Darjeeling district, she stressed the need for education for Santal children. I know how much the Santals have c

KOLKATA, Mar 7: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that incoming Governor R N Ravi is a BJP cadre and claimed that the sudden exit of C V Ananda Bose from Lok Bhavan was the result of pressure from the Centre. Addressing supporters at her ongoing dharna against deletions in voter rolls, Banerjee accused the BJP-led central government of attempting to convert Lok Bhavan into a political outpost in the run-up to the assembly elections in the [] The post Mamata calls inc

Irans president says US demand for unconditional surrender is dream that they should to take to their grave, reports AP The post Irans president says US demand for unconditional surrender is dream that they should to take to their grave, reports AP appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Long-haul carrier Emirates says all flights to and from Dubai have been suspended until further notice after attack, reports AP The post Long-haul carrier Emirates says all flights to and from Dubai have been suspended until further notice after attack, reports AP appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Mumbai, Mar 7: Forced to announce its support to Sharad Pawar for the lone winnable Rajya Sabha seat owing to coalition politics, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has now virtually staked its claim for the sure-shot seat the MVA can win in the legislative council polls for Uddhav Thackeray. Thackeray is a strong opposition voice in the legislature, and it is important that he is re-elected, said Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, citing the wishes of all senior leaders of opposition [] The post All senior Opposition

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 7: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that if he was not in politics, he would probably be doing some entrepreneurship in the aerospace world. Rahul was responding to a query during a dialogue with the Information Technology (IT) Fraternity at Technopark here. He said he has been defined as a politician by many, but he actually does a lot of other things. Rahul, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said he was of the [] The post If Not In Politics, Would

MAHASAMUND, Feb 7: Overcoming a six-year battle with cancer and resigning from three jobs, Sanjay Dahariya from Chhattisgarhs Mahasamund district has secured the 946th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 in his third attempt. The 38-year-old son of a farmer from Beltukri has brought immense pride and joy to his family and the people of his village. Dahariyas academic journey began at a local government school, but it took a significant turn when he was selected for Jawahar [] The po

JAMMU, Mar 7: The Jammu & Kashmir Financial Commissioner (Revenue) has officially closed the Regular Departmental Action against Bashir Ahmad Hajam, the former Naib Tehsildar of Tangmarg, by imposing a penalty of censure. As per an order, Hajam was originally arrested in 2021 by the Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 30,000 to sign revenue extracts. While an internal inquiry recently found that the specific bribery charges could not be established due to a lack of evide

JAMMU, Mar 7: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has issued a circular directing all Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) to strictly follow rules while processing payments for works contracts and ensure proper submission of invoices for materials procured during execution of works. The circular, issued by the Finance Department, Jammu and Kashmir, states that in several cases contractors procure raw materials and consumables in ways that do not match the scope and specifications mentioned in

Dubai, Mar 7: Explosions sent up clouds of dark smoke in the Iranian capital city early Saturday, and Tehran retaliated by firing missiles at Israel as the United States warned of a forthcoming bombing campaign that officials said would be the most intense yet in the weeklong conflict. There was no foreseeable end to the fighting. US President Donald Trumps administration approved a new USD 151 million arms sale to Israel after Trump said he would not negotiate with Iran [] The post Explosions R

Dubai, Mar 7: Israeli warplanes pounded Beirut and Tehran on Friday as Iran launched another wave of retaliatory strikes against Israel and Gulf countries that host US forces. 1. Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials familiar with US intelligence on the matter. Its the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved in the war. 2. US President Donald Trump appeared []

Islamabad, Mar 7: In the first post-Iran war economic shock, Pakistan government in an overnight decision has increased petrol and high-speed diesel prices by PKR 55 per litre each, the highest-ever hike. Addressing a press conference just before midnight, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced the hike with the consolation that the country has sufficient petroleum reserves. As a result of the h

ALAPPUZHA (Kerala), Mar 7: Senior Congress leader and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal on Saturday said the current political circumstances in Kerala assure a resounding victory for the party-led UDF by winning more than 100 seats in the upcoming Assembly polls. There are 140 Assembly seats in the state. Speaking to reporters here, Venugopal said the UDF would soon release its candidates list for the crucial election. The Alappuzha MP also said that the Satheesan-led Puduyuga Yatra, which is

Actor Vivaan Shah says it was a blessing to portray a real life character like Captain Vijendra Malhotra in filmmaker Sriram Raghavans war drama Ikkis and a significant part of his performance was inspired by his uncle, retired Lieutenant General Zameeruddin Shah. In the critically-acclaimed war drama, which centres on Indias youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee Arun Khetrapal who was martyred during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Shah played his sharp and composed senior officer, Captain Malhotra. His per

NEW DELHI, Mar 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his greetings on Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2026, saying the governments flagship affordable medicine initiative reflects its commitment to ensuring accessible healthcare for all citizens. In a message posted on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana has helped millions of people access quality medicines at significantly lower prices. On #JanAushadhiDiwas2026, my best wishes to all th

SRINAGAR, Mar 7: Life returned to normal across Kashmir on Saturday as authorities lifted restrictions which were in effect the whole week in the wake of protests in many parts of the valley following the killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Restrictions have been lifted from all parts of the valley and the situation is normal, officials said. They said security forces have removed barricades that were put up at some places, including the Lal Chowk city centre [] The post Curb

Bandipora, March 7: Authorities on Saturday suspended vehicular movement on the BandiporaGurez road following fresh snowfall at Razdan Top, officials said. The decision was taken as a precautionary measure after snowfall made the high-altitude Razdan Pass slippery and unsafe for traffic. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Gurez Mukhtar Ahmad confirmed that traffic on the road connecting Bandipora with the remote Gurez Valley has been suspended until further orders. Due to snowfall at Razdan Top and as a

NEW DELHI, Mar 7: The Congress on Saturday doubled down on its attack on the Modi government over US officials remarks on Indias Russian oil purchase and accused it of being cowardly and compromised. The opposition partys jibe came after the US said it has given permission to India to buy Russian oil that is on ships already floating on waterways with a view to easing supplies around the world amid the West Asia conflict. Congress general secretary in-charge communications [] The post Cowardly a

MEHDHAR/JAMMU, Mar 7: A live mortar shell was safely defused by security forces in a forward village near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, officials said. A border resident spotted the mortar shell lying in a secluded area of Brari village in the Sawjian sector and alerted the Army unit and the local police post, they said. A bomb disposal squad was rushed to the scene, and the mortar shell was defused [] The post Mortar Shell Defused Along LoC In J&

WALK IN INTERVIEW TINY TOTS HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR ALL CLASSES NUR TO 12TH (ALL STREAMS) INCLUDING URDU. #MINIMUM TWO YEARS EXPERIENCE #FLUENT COMMUNICATION SKILLS WALK IN INTERVIEW WITH YOUR RESUME AT OUR LOCATIONS : RESIDENCY ROAD (9419797770, 9622193991) LOWER ROOP NAGAR (9419778089) SEC-D SAINIK COLONY (9419193790) TIMING-10AM TO 12.30PM JOB VACANCY IN SHANKER INDUSTRIES SAMBA NAME OF POSTS POSTS 1 1. A SENIOR ACCOUNTANT ROLE REQUIRING 10 YEARS+ OF EXPERIENCE, LE

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, Mar 7: The US said it has given permission to India to buy Russian oil that is on ships already floating on waterways with a view to easing supplies around the world amid the West Asia conflict. The world is very well supplied in oil. Yesterday, the Treasury (Department) agreed to let our allies in India start buying Russian oil that was already on the water, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview to Fox Business [] The post US Has Given Permission To India

Jammu, Mar 7: Two mobile phones were recovered from a parcel meant for an inmate lodged at a jail in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, officials said. The recovery was made by authorities during routine checking of parcels delivered at the district jail Bhaderwah. According to officials, the parcel was meant for delivery to an inmate who has been lodged in the jail under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for the past one month. He is from [] The post Attempts To Smuggle Phones To Jail In

New Delhi, Mar 7: The prices of domestic LPG and commercial cylinders were hiked by a steep Rs 60 and Rs 114.5, respectively, amid rising energy costs linked to the West Asia conflict. Non-subsidised LPG, the one that common household users other than the Ujjwala beneficiaries use in their kitchens, will now cost Rs 913 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi as against Rs 853 previously, according to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) website. This is the second increase in prices [] The post Domestic LPG

*Jemimah Rodrigues slams fifty 07PERTH, Mar 6: Jemimah Rodrigues fought bravely with a fifty but other India batters failed to counter the swing generated by Australian pacers Annabel Sutherland and debutant Lucy Hamilton, getting bundled out for a lowly 198 on the opening day of the one-off day-night Test here on Friday. Rodrigues (52, 84b) looked fluent but did not have much backing from the rest of her colleagues. The Indian pacers maintained a fine line outside the off-stump to [] The post B

NEW DELHI, Mar 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated all the candidates who successfully cleared the Civil Services Examination, 2025 and said their dedication, perseverance and hard work have led to this significant milestone. For those who could not perform as desired, Modi said, this was only one step in a larger journey and many opportunities lie ahead, both in future examinations and in the many avenues through which they can contribute to the nation. Congratulations to al

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 6: In J&K for February 2026, retail sector registered a growth of 40.52 % YoY. The 2-Wheeler category witnessed a growth of 53.48% at 7,792 units in February 2026, as compared to 5,077 units in February 2025. The 3 Wheeler category witnessed a growth of 27.79% at 1,292 units in February 2026, as compared to 1,011units in February 2025. The Commercial Wheeler category witnessed a growth of 38.04% at 1,212 units in February 2026, as compared [] The post Auto reta

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 6: Daikin Air-conditioning today announced the launch of its highly anticipated 2026 product lineup, marking a significant leap in energy efficiency and smart climate control. The new range includes a completely revamped series of Room Air Conditioners (RA) compliant with the latest BEE 2026 Star Rating standards and the pioneering VRV Alpha series, which integrates advanced AI and IoT capabilities into Daikins patented VRV technology. Speaking on the occasion,

Excelsior Correspondent KAVARATTI, Mar 6: Union Minister for Earth Sciences and Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh visited the Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) plant at Kavaratti in Lakshadweep today and reviewed the functioning of desalination facilities that provide drinking water to several islands in the archipelago. The ministers visit was part of his official tour of Lakshadweep, during which he held a review meeting with officials and scientists on projects being impleme

Harsha Kakar kakarharsha@gmail.com On July 19th last year, as part of Operation Midnight Hammer, seven US B2 bombers dropped fourteen GBU-57 (Guided Bomb Unit) MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) bombs alongside two dozen Tomahawk missiles, launched from US submarines, on Irans three key nuclear facilities of Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. The US employed fighter aircraft to enable the bombers to achieve their objectives without hinderance. Immediately after the strikes, Pete Hegseth, the US defence s

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 6: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired a meeting to review the district-wise performance of Mission YUVA across Jammu and Kashmir, assessing progress on key parameters of Culture, Capital, Capacity and Connectivity aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and employment generation among the youth. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism; Vice Chancellors of Universities; Director, IIM Jammu; Commissioner Secretary, Planning; Secretary,

Prof. Shyam Narayan Lal Over the last few years, the University of Jammu has gradually assumed a deeper role-not merely as an academic institution devoted to teaching and research, but as an important platform for engaging with the cultural life of the region. In an environment where universities are often viewed primarily as centres of instruction and professional training, the University of Jammu has increasingly recognized its wider responsibility toward the society and the region it serves.

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today inaugurated a newly constructed block at the Civil Secretariat, Jammu, aimed at augmenting office infrastructure and improving the working facilities for employees. The new block is expected to significantly add to the available workspace, further strengthening administrative efficiency and overall functioning at the Secretariat. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani,

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 6: A delegation of the Chamber of Traders Federation (CTF), led by its president, Neeraj Anand, who is also the National vice president of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), called on the Controller, Legal Metrology Department J&K, Shiv Kumar Gupta, during an interaction with representatives of the trader community. During the meeting, the delegation placed several suggestions and issues before the Controller regarding the functioning of the departm

Writes to Pradhan citing internet restrictions Irfan Tramboo Srinagar, Mar 6: Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo, has written to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, urging him to extend the deadline for submission of applications for NEET-UG 2026, citing difficulties faced by students due to slow internet connectivity in the Kashmir division. In a letter dated today, Itoo said many students are facing significant problems while applying for the medical entrance exami

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 6: A two-day symposium on geospatial approach to soil and land management, tiled TerraGeo Symposium 2026 was organized under HADP Project-19 at SKUAST Jammu. Inaugurated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the symposium brought together leading scientists, academicians, policymakers, personnels from State line Departments, and young researchers to deliberate on the growing role of Geospatial Technologies in sustainable soil and land resource management. Experts fr