Daily Excelsior

Dubai, Jan 12: US President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown on protesters, a move coming as activists said Monday the death toll in the nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 544. Iran had no immediate reaction to the news, which came after the foreign minister of Oman long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran travelled to Iran this weekend. It also remains [] The post Trump Says Ir

New Delhi, Jan 12: The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses of union ministries of Law, Health and Ayush on a plea seeking a direction to declare AYUSH doctors as Registered Medical Practitioners under the law like allopathic doctors. The PIL also sought a direction to constitute an expert committee to review and update the schedule of a 1954 law, aimed at controlling advertisement of drugs in certain cases in accordance with present-day scientific developments. A bench comprising Chief Just

AMARAVATI, Jan 12: Websol Renewable Private Limited will invest Rs 3,538 crore to set up an 8 gigawatt integrated solar manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh, strengthening the states push to become a major clean-energy manufacturing hub. The Andhra Pradesh government has approved the greenfield project at MPSEZ-Naidupeta in Tirupati district, which will comprise 4 GW of solar cell capacity and 4 GW of solar module capacity, according to a state government order. The project is expected to g

NEW DELHI, Jan 12: The Supreme Court collegium has recommended appointment of Justice Sujoy Paul as Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court. The collegium headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, in a meeting held on January 9, recommended appointment of Justice Paul. Justice Paul is currently posted as a judge in the Calcutta High Court. His parent high court in Madhya Pradesh. (Agenciese) The post SC collegium recommends appointment of Justice Sujoy Paul as Chief Justice of Calcutta HC appeared fi

Srinagar, Jan 12: Kashmir received some respite from intense cold wave conditions as minimum temperatures rose by a couple of degrees, even as they remained below the freezing point, officials said on Monday. The sub-zero temperatures and clear skies resulted in freezing of parts of the Dal Lake and other water bodies in the valley. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday night, up from the previous nights minus 5.2 degrees Celsius, the official said. [] Th

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SRINAGAR, Jan 12: Retired All India Services (AIS) officers from J&K cadre have condoled the passing away of their former colleague and retired IAS officer, G.M. Thakur of Lasjan, Kashmir. In their condolence message, the AIS officers recalled the services rendered to the public by the late Mr Thakur in various capacities as a senior civil servant and described him as a highly cultured and affectionate colleague. The retired officers expressed deep sympathy with the bereaved family and prayed fo

Ahmedabad, Jan 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the International Kite Festival-2026 at Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad and later enjoyed kite flying with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. After paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram, PM Modi and Chancellor Merz went to the Sabarmati Riverfront, where the state government has organised the kite festival. At the venue, Modi and Merz interacted with women artisans and understood the process of making kite

Jammu, Jan 12: Cold weather conditions prevailed across Jammu on Monday morning as dense fog led to low visibility, affecting normal life and transport movement, officials said. Due to poor visibility during the early hours, vehicular movement on city roads remained thin, with fewer vehicles seen compared to a routine morning. Traffic authorities said motorists drove cautiously as fog reduced visibility across several stretches, particularly on major arterial roads and entry points to the city.

JAMMU, Jan 12: Vehicular traffic was plying smoothly on both sides of the Jammu Srinagar National Highway on Monday following an improvement in weather conditions, officials said. There was no report of slow movement or congestion on the strategic highway, with traffic moving steadily from both the Jammu and Kashmir ends. Authorities said the improvement in weather has contributed to better road conditions, allowing uninterrupted movement of passenger vehicles as well as essential supply trucks.

New Delhi, Jan 12: The Congress on Monday hoped that the forthcoming Union Budget will take meaningful steps to address the challenges of sluggish private corporate investment and disparities in income as higher GDP growth rates in actuality will simply not be sustainable. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said household savings rates have declined considerably, and wealth, income, and consumption inequalities continue to deepen. Ramesh said it remains to be seen

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Bandipora, Jan 12: A Border Security Force (BSF) constable was charred to death after a fire broke out in a barrack of the 62nd Battalion BSF at the Madar area of Bandipora district late last night, officials said. Official said that the deceased has been identified as Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Jalandhar, Punjab. They said the fire engulfed the barrack during the night, and Ramesh Kumar could not be rescued due to the intensity of the blaze, resulting in [] The post BSF Constable Charred To De

SOMNATH (Gujarat), Jan 11: Priests played damrus and 108 horses slowly trotted towards the Veer Hamirji Gohil Circle that faced the Somnath temple complex here on Sunday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a ceremonial procession to the ancient shrine amid traditional dance performances. The Shaurya Yatra, organised to honour the countless warriors who laid down their lives defending the Somnath Temple, began from the Shankh Circle, with the prime minister riding an open-top vehicle for the near

SINGAPORE, Jan 11 : India, a founding member of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), is set to deepen its engagement with the Singapore-based Information Sharing Centre (ISC) of the grouping, its Executive Director Vijay D Chafekar has said. We expect closer cooperation with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), the Indian Focal Point of ReCAAP, for promoting safe and secure seas in Asia, Chafekar told PTI on Saturday.

VADODARA, Jan 11: Virat Kohli reigned supreme once again with a 91-ball 93 and skipper Shubman Gill hit 56 but India huffed and puffed before completing a nervy four-wicket win against New Zealand in the opening ODI of the three-match series here on Sunday. In pursuit of 301, India were in complete control when Kohli departed in the 40th over but a flurry of wickets saw the home side going over the line with 306 for six in 49 overs. [] The post Kohlis 93 sets up Indias nervy four-wicket win in 1

Prof Vandana Sharma vandana.eng@ cujammu.ac.in Youth usher transformation in a profound tangible way in view of the fact that the energy of youth coupled with creativity and courage is one of the main drivers of social, economic, political and cultural transformation. Across the world there exist umpteen examples where the young minds have created ripples through their transformative effort and result-oriented action. To name a few, Greta began protesting climate inaction at age 15 and through F

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 11: The J&K UT Gymnastics Championship concluded at the Gymnastics Hall, MA Stadium, here today with impressive performances by young gymnasts from across the Union Territory. Secretary, J&K Sports Council, Nuzhat Gul was the chief guest on the occasion, while Ravinder Kumar, Deputy Commandant BSF, attended as the guest of honour. Addressing the gathering, Nuzhat Gul appreciated the Gymnastics Association of J&K for successfully organising district champ

GUWAHATI, Jan 11 : Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Sunday laid the foundation for an Integrated Judicial Court Complex in Assams Kamrup district amid protests by the Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) against the move to shift the High Court. CJI Kant expressed surprise at the opposition, maintaining that personal vested interests should not be valid grounds for resisting development. The GHCBA has been opposing the relocation of the high court to Rangmahal in North Guwahati from []

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 11: In a significant initiative aimed at deepening the democratic engagement and advancing the constitutional mandate of social justice, Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, today held a day long mega public outreach programme with members of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Scheduled Castes (SCs) at Panchayat Bhawan here. The outreach programme was conceived as a rights-based part

NEW DELHI, Jan 11 : The intense cold sweeping through north India tightened its grip further on Sunday, with parts of Rajasthan experiencing sub-zero temperatures and the mercury in Delhi dropped to 2.9 degrees Celsius for the first time this year. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the spell of extreme cold is likely to continue for the next few days, with severe cold wave conditions expected in isolated parts of northern India. Some places in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and [] The post

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Jan 11: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today unveiled the Handicrafts and Handloom Departments Calendar 2026, a visual tribute celebrating the timeless craft traditions of Kashmir. The calendar beautifully encapsulates the essence of the Valleys artistic heritage, highlighting the skill, dedication and commitment of the regions artisans the true custodians of Kashmirs cultural legacy. During the calendar launch event, the Chief Minister said, This calendar is an

Paperless project to be delayed, may be implemented partially *Double sittings if business is more: Rather Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Jan 11: Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to discuss budget session schedule including the date on which Omar, who also holds charge of the Finance Department, will present his budget. Following the meeting, the budget session calendar is expected to be released soon. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The budg

KOKRAJHAR, Jan 11 : Normal life was disrupted on Sunday in Assams Kokrajhar district, where a bandh was called to protest the alleged rape of a mentally-challenged woman. Markets and business establishments remained shut, and public transport stayed off the roads as a result of the bandh called by the World Hindu Federation. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were imposed to prevent any deterioration of the law and order situation, officials said. The

Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Jan 11: Remembering the supreme sacrifices of Bhikham Singh and Bihari Lal, on their martyrdom day, who laid down their lives on January 11 in1953 during the historic agitation demanding Ek Vidhan, Ek Nishan, Ek Pradhan, the Jammu & Kashmir BJP led by its president and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Sat Sharma CA, along with senior party leaders, paid heartfelt tribute at the memorial site in Hiranagar near here, today. Paying floral tribute, Sat Sharma empha

THRIUVANTAPURAM, Jan 11: The Congress on Sunday distanced itself from MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who was arrested in a sexual assault case, stating that he had been expelled from the party long ago. Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan said the party removed the Palakkad MLA after realising his alleged wrongdoing. After that, he is no longer our responsibility, and the party is not answerable for anything, he said. Referring to Mamkootathils ousting, Muraleedharan said the party had used its Brah

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 11: The Congress Party today paid floral tribute to former Prime Minister of India, Late Lal Bahadur Shastri, on his death anniversary at the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office, Shaheedi Chowk, Jammu. Working president Raman Bhalla, former Minister J&K Yogesh Sawhney, Ex- MLC and JKPCC I/C Hqr Ved Mahajan along with senior leaders, party office bearers and workers assembled to commemorate the life and legacy of the great national leader, recalling his unma

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 11: Marking a step towards strengthening quality guidance for civil services preparation, a free Zoology optional workshop (11th January) organized for the IAS, IFoS and JKAS aspirants was conducted by SR College of Competitions, here today. The workshop received an encouraging response from aspirants who are keen to opt for Zoology as their optional subject. During the session, subject expert provided in-depth insights into the Zoology optional syllabus, its r

NEW DELHI, Jan 11 : Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday called for international cooperation to support developing countries in scaling up renewable energy capacity without compromising development aspirations. The Minister for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) made the remarks at the 16th IRENA Assembly in Abu Dhabi, UAE, an official statement said. The minister noted that the global energy transition will require unprecedented investment and cooperation. India alone is expected to require aro

BS DARA bsdara@gmail.com The United States has taken an extraordinary step by capturing Venezuelas sitting leader, Nicolas Maduro, through a direct military operation and declaring its intention to oversee the countrys political transition. Whatever ones view of Maduro, the manner in which this was done marks a significant moment in global affairs. It was not carried out through international institutions, regional consensus, and a collective mandate. It was done unilaterally, announced after t

KATHMANDU, Jan 11: Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel on Sunday called for safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as the Himalayan nation observed National Unity Day the birth anniversary of nation-builder Prithvi Narayan Shah. Paudel paid tributes to then-Gorkha King Shah on his 304th birth anniversary. He unified around two dozen smaller states into a greater Nepal in the mid-18th century. Let the national unity day inspire all of us to achieve prosperity an

NEW DELHI, Jan 11 : The IT and electronics ministry has taken over discussions on safety standards in mobile phones and other communication devices from the telecom department to meet requirement under a telecom security assurance norm, official sources said. According to mobile phone manufacturing players, the move is just a routine consultation between the government and the industry. Sources said that the IT ministry is holding discussions with stakeholders under the Indian Telecom Security A

BEIJING, Jan 11 : Chinese scientists have successfully developed a lightweight model for beef cattle behavior recognition from quadruped robot video in grassland pastures, improving the efficiency of herd feeding and management. The lightweight model MASM-YOLO was proposed by the Agricultural Information Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the relevant research was published in Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. Accurate and rapid identification of typical cattl

New Delhi, Jan 11: Learn to bounce back from failures, never be satisfied and keep moving towards progress. These were the mantras for success shared by astronauts Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth Nair in an interactive session with youngsters here on Sunday. At the ongoing Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue here, Shukla recalled the message from the movie Finding Nemo keep swimming, never give up and urged the youngsters from across the country to give their best to the [] The post Keep swimm

New Delhi, Jan 11: The Al Falah University campus in Haryanas Faridabad, which came under the scanner of investigating agencies after the Red Fort area blast, could be attached by the Enforcement Directorate under the anti-money laundering law, official sources said on Sunday. The ED is investigating if funds for the construction of the varsity were sourced from alleged proceeds of crime, the sources said. Al Falah Group chairman Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui was arrested by the ED in November on [] The

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 11: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday warned that Keralas law and order situation may look calm now, but several threats are slowly emerging that could become dangerous in the future. Speaking at a conclave organised by Kerala Kaumudi, a leading Malayalam newspaper here, he questioned the role of certain organisations and asked whether they could truly keep people safe. Those who do not believe in coexistencehow can they ensure unity, Shah asked. Through this progra

Srinagar, Jan 11: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday unveiled the Handicrafts and Handloom Departments Calendar for 2026, a visual tribute celebrating the timeless craft traditions of Kashmir. The calendar beautifully encapsulates the essence of the valleys artistic heritage, highlighting the skill, dedication and commitment of the regions artisans, an official spokesperson said. This calendar is an ode to the artisans who weave, carve and colour Kashmirs soul, the chief minister said after

NEW DELHI, Jan 11: Indian IT leaders are betting big on agentic AI adoption for business growth compared to the leading western market, where focus is on enhancing traditional efficiency, a survey report by technology consultancy firm Thoughtworks said. The company has claimed to cover 3,500 C-suite and senior IT decision makers across seven countries, including 500 in India. The report said, 48 per cent of Indian leaders identify agentic AI, autonomous systems capable of acting, reasoning, and

NEW DELHI, Jan 11 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State for PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, Dr. Jitendra Singh, met and interacted with the student contingent from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh participating in Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, at his residence here. The interaction was held in a warm and

Ahmedabad, Jan 11: Reliance Industries CMD Mukesh Ambani on Sunday hailed Indias resilience amid global uncertainty and said challenges created by this geopolitical situation cannot touch or trouble the country due to the invincible protective wall called Narendra Modi. Let the world know that this is Indias defining decade under the PMs leadership, Ambani asserted while addressing the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) for Kutch and Saurashtra region in Rajkot. The Vibrant Gujarat Regio

NEW DELHI, Jan 11: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is not changing but gradually evolving and simply unfolding with time, Mohan Bhagwat said on Sunday. The RSS chief was addressing an event organised at the organisations office here to launch the song album of the upcoming film Shatak, which chronicles the 100-year journey of the RSS. Singer Sukhwinder Singh, director Ashish Mall, co-producer Ashish Tiwari, and RSS functionary Bhaiyaji Joshi were present on the occasion. The organisation

NEW DELHI, Jan 11: The Enforcement Directorate has approached the Supreme Court alleging interference and obstruction by the West Bengal government, including by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in its probe and search operation at the I-PAC office and premises of its director Pratik Jain in connection with the coal pilferage scam. The West Bengal Government has also filed a caveat in the top court seeking that no order should be passed without hearing it in connection with Enforcement Directora

SRINAGAR, Jan 11: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday hailed athletes from Jammu and Kashmir for emerging as the overall mens champions in Pencak Silat at the Khelo India Beach Games. The six-day Khelo India Beach Games, held at the iconic Blue Flag-certified Ghoghla Beach in Diu, concluded on Saturday. Chief Minister hailed the J&K contingent for winning 2 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medal and emerging Overall Mens Champions in Pencak Silat at the Khelo India Beach Games-2026, [] The post CM

Jammu, Jan 11: The crime branch of Jammu and Kashmir police has registered a case against a man for allegedly duping two persons with fake appointment orders purportedly in the name of the high court here, a senior official said on Sunday. Mohd Tahir, a resident of Banola in Poonch, was booked for cheating and forgery, said Senior Superintendent of Police (special crime wing), Jammu, Sanjay Parihar. He said the case was registered on Saturday, following complaints by two persons, [] The post Two

NEW DELHI, Jan 11: Spain, Germany, Belgium, and Poland are emerging as stable and key export destinations for Indian goods within the 27-nation European Union bloc, according to the commerce ministry data. The data showed that Spain stands out as a high-growth European market for Indian exports. Exports to Spain rose by over 56 per cent during April-November this fiscal to USD 4.7 billion from USD 3 billion in the same period of the previous financial year. Spains share [] The post Spain, Germa

NEW DELHI, Jan 11: The Indian Micro-Fertilizers Manufacturers Association has urged the Centre to extend the 5 per cent GST across all fertilisers notified under the Fertiliser Control Order, expedite refunds of excess GST credits, and implement a unified licensing system ahead of the Union Budget. While acknowledging GST 2.0 as a landmark reform for the sector, particularly the reduction in GST from 12 per cent to 5 per cent on Schedule 1G items and their mixtures, the industry [] The post Mic

New Delhi, Jan 11: As many as six years after the law was amended, the central government is yet to constitute the Arbitration Council of India to regulate and promote institutional arbitration in the country. Senior Union law ministry officials said it took years for corporates and public sector undertakings to shun ad-hoc arbitration and go far institutional arbitration to settle commercial disputes. The proposed arbitration council is mandated to regulate institutional arbitration. But when i

NEW DELHI, Jan 11: The Government is likely to achieve the fiscal deficit target of 4.4 per cent of the GDP in FY26, and it could even better it, a positive signal to global investors about Indias commitment to fiscal management, PwC Partner and Economic Advisory Services leader Ranen Banerjee said. The revision in the nominal GDP growth target from 10.1 per cent to 8 per cent by the National Statistical Office recently raised concerns about the governments ability [] The post Govt to achieve f

Somnath (Gujarat), Jan 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the forces that had opposed the reconstruction of the Somnath temple after independence are still active among us, and India needs to be alert, united and strong to defeat them. Referring to the attacks endured by the historic temple, located in Gujarats Gir Somnath district, in the past and how it was rebuilt every time, Modi said the hearts of people can never be won at the point of [] The post Forces Opposing Somnath Rebui

MOSCOW, Jan 11: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) calls for the safe passage of civilians willing to flee conflict zones in Sudan, ICRC Director of Operations Yasmine Praz Dessimoz told Sputnik. We are calling for the safe passage of all civilians fleeing the violence. Anyone no longer taking part in hostilities, including the injured, sick, and detained, must be treated humanely and with dignity, in full accordance with international humanitarian law, Praz Dessimoz said. Follo